September 2017
Monta Vista High School
elESTOQUE
8 NEWS
12 OPINION
26 A&E
33 SPORTS
Affirmative action’s impact on Asian American applicants
The danger of hypersensitivity to prejudice
The mentality behind splurging on makeup
Exchange student plays on the MVHS field hockey team
DISSECTED 20 FEAR From dolls, to fitting in, to phobias
Issue I Volume XLVIII
NEWS
OPINION
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THE LANE LESS TRAVELED
Cupertino encourages cycling and walking in new initiatives
BROKEN GROUND A glimpse at the upcoming construction
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HOW ADULTS COPE WITH STUDENT STRESS The emotional cost of being a staff member
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THE COLLEGE CRAPSHOOT Affirmative action’s effect on Asian American applicants
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SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS Google adds depression questionnaire
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A&E
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NINE TO FIVE
Why students choose internships over jobs
REPUTATIONS: PROTESTS What MVHS students think about protests
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SAME OLD Trump is ruining our country once again SNOWED IN Our hypersensitivity leads to overreacting
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THE F--- BOMB Teachers and students explore swearing at school
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SPORTS
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CUT TO THE RACE
COSTMETICS
Cross country athletes participate in summer competitions
IT’S A DATE An overview of upcoming September events
NEW COUNTRY, NEW SCHOOL, NEW SPORT Exchange student plays on the MVHS field hockey team
The mentality behind splurging on makeup
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INSIDE THE BINDER Comparing study habits of different personality types
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PRESS PLAY Analyzing the growth of esports
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FOUR THINGS: APPLES TO APPLES Four things you can do with an apple
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CALLING THE SHOTS Student athletes experience what it’s like to be a coach
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SPORTS FLASH MVHS’ first month of athletics in photos
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IN THIS ISSUE FEATURES
FIGHTING PHOBIAS How phobias develop from fear and the effect they have on daily life
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Students discuss their fears in the midst of social change
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FEAR ME NOT
FEAR BUSTERS WITH AGE COMES The motivation CHANGE behind actively How do seeking out fear childhood EVOLUTION OF FEAR fears evolve as we grow How fear into adults evolved with time
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LETTER FROM THE EDITORS... M
any parents have been tasked with the duty of searching their kids’ closets and under their beds for the treacherous monsters their children believe are lurking in the darkness of night. Sweeping a flashlight across the dark corners, they try to calm their child’s fear of the dark. But as they grow older, children often stop worrying about the dark and instead find themselves stressing about other things: Are they fitting in? Are they succeeding in school? Will they get into college? Will they disappoint those around them? As each school year starts, we find ourselves facing some of these fears. Freshmen worry about whether they’ll be able to find friends in the massive crowd of students that floods the rally court. Sophomores contemplate if they’re fully acclimated to high school. Juniors obsess over preparing to take SATs and ACTs, and seniors agonize over their college essays and applications. In our own journalism room, stress overflows our minds as the clock ticks towards our deadline and we rush to finish the last page of our magazine. But there are some fears that run deeper than the ones we harbor in these first few months. There are fears that terrorize some, causing shortened breaths and trembling fingers. For some, fears become phobias: an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something. Throughout our lives, some of us find ourselves with irrational fears that we draw from personal experiences and those around us. On page 20-21, staff writers Swara Tewari and Emily Xia explore the impact of those phobias. Phobias can stem from almost anything. It can be something many are scared of, like spiders. But it could also stem from something more unexpected, like dogs. Regardless of what they are about, the factor that distinguishes them from our everyday fears is the extreme anxiety they can incite — the type of panicked feeling that keeps us from facing their fears. Most of us don’t even realize that social anxiety in itself is a phobia — an irrational fear of social interactions. But even the more rational types of fear have infiltrated every aspect of our lives. As we scroll through our news feeds, we worry about natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey and being bombed by North Korea. Every year we grow older, but our fears never quite go away; however, they’re not at a standstill either. As we outgrow fears of monsters under our beds and fitting in freshman year, they evolve into something more complex that speaks to the human condition: what am I supposed to be doing with my life anyway? On page 25, reporters Ananya Bhat and Karen Sanchez look into how our fears shift over time, from childhood to adulthood. Despite nagging fears, we don’t have to go it alone. At least not yet. Sometimes we need the help of our parents, teachers or friends to face our fears. But with time, we will need to find our own ways to cope. In this issue, we shine a light on fears, phobias and where they all come from in hopes we’ll eventually be able to make it on our own in a sometimes scary world.
Ananya Bhat
Ilena Peng
elESTOQUE 21840 McClellan Road Cupertino, CA 95014 mv.el.estoque@gmail.com
Editors-in-chief: Ananya Bhat, Ilena Peng Managing editors: Aanchal Garg, Om Khandekar, Akshara Majjiga, Chetana Ramaiyer, Priya Reddy Copy editors: Emma Lam, Karen Ma, Andrea Schlitt Web editor: Daniel Lin Design editor: Elizabeth Han News editors: Claire Chang, Gauri Kaushik, ZaZu Lippert Sports editors: Rana Aghababazadeh, Roshan Fernandez, Sannidhi Menon, Anthony Moll Entertainment editors: Sara Entezar, Shar Rahman, Michelle Wong, Himani Yalamaddi Opinion editors: Ruth Feng, Mallika Singh, Nate Stevens Feature editors: Helen Chao, Vivian Chiang, Katerina Pappas, Karen Sanchez Beats editors: Bill Cheng, Anjini Venugopal Business editor: Shayon Moradi Public relations editor: Jennie Chen Staff writers: Robert Borrego, Sunjin Chang, Anirudh Chaudhary, Charlotte Chui, Aditya Dash, Aditi Gnanasekar, Ankit Gupta, Rajas Habbu, Alyssa Hui, Zara Iqbal, Shuvi Jha, Ria Kolli, Sreya Kumar, Hannah Lee, Jasmine Lee, Carol Lei, Maggie McCormick, Songjun Na, Andrea Perng, Jahan Razavi, Ishani Singh, Rucha Soman, Swara Tewari, Stuti Upadhyay, Jai Uparkar, Anish Vasudevan, Jacob Wee, Emily Xia, Claire Yang, Julia Yang, Sarah Young Adviser: Julia Satterthwaite Mission Statement El Estoque is an open forum created for and by students of Monta Vista High School. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the journalism staff and not of Monta Vista High School or the Fremont Union High School District. The staff seeks to recognize individuals, events, and ideas and bring news to the MVHS community in a manner that is professional, unbiased, and thorough in order to effectively serve our readers. We strive to report accurately, and we will correct any significant error. If you believe such an error has been made, please contact us. Letters of any length should be submitted via email or mail. They may be edited for length or accuracy. Letters cannot be returned and will be published at El Estoque’s discretion. We also reserve the right to reject advertising due to space limitations or decision of the Editorial Board that content of the advertisement conflicts with the mission of the publication.
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THE LANE LESS TRAVELED Cupertino hopes to encourage cycling and walking in new initiatives BY ZAZU LIPPERT AND ANDREA PERNG
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very weekday morning at 7:30 a.m., senior Justin Lin rolls into school, adding his bike to the crowded racks by the side of the A building. This is the home of MVHS’ prolific cycling community. About 32 percent of MVHS’ student population bike or walk to school every day, according to a Safe Routes to School [SR2S] survey from last year. And recently, the city of Cupertino has decided to focus efforts on making the city more suited for these modes of transportation. On Wednesday, Aug. 30, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department kicked off a “traffic crackdown” and issued multiple driving tickets to drivers violating traffic laws while dropping off students around the MVHS, Lincoln MS and Kennedy MS area. This is just one piece of a citywide effort to keep the roads safe around school while simultaneously promoting more walking and biking. Another is a new silver pole-like structure sitting in front of the doors to the Cupertino Libary. This device is actually a bicycle repair station, installed on July 27. It includes tools for minor repairs and tuneups, along with a manual pump to inflate flat tires. However, Cupertino is still dense with automobile traffic, as according to statistics from FUHSD, there are about 3,000 car rides going in and out of the MVHS school area every day. Groups like Cupertino SR2S and Walk-Bike Cupertino are trying to relieve this congestion. According to David Stillman, Senior Civil Engineer for the City of Cupertino, a new proposed biking plan for the city includes class IV bike lanes along McClellan Road, “bike boulevards” and bike-ped trail facilities. The bike boulevards would lead
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to changes in residential areas to increase to construct safer routes within the city for Founded in 2014 safer driving practices, such as speed pedestrians and bikers.PHOTM KHANDEKAR bumps and traffic circles, while bike-ped by Larry Dean, the group’s advisory board trail facilities would be long extended areas consists of 10 people and also has nearly for pedestrians and cyclists, potentially 1,000 members. Walk-Bike was responsible for the along the Union-Pacific railroad track among other places. The class IV bike lanes promotion of many of the changes that would mean more separation than just the students saw near MVHS, including the green bike lanes on Stevens Creek and previous widening of lanes. McClellan as well as another bike repair “You take a bike lane and station on De Anza. As Dean explains, you put a physical buffer the reason for the high-traffic between the bike lane density around MVHS is no and the cars so mystery. According to studies, that the cars can’t there are about 3,000 car actually cross trips made to the area each over into the bike day. Dean hopes the recent lane,” Stillman changes in favor of biking said. “And you’ve of students and walking in Cupertino can achieved a class either walk or lead to acceleration for more IV separated bike bike to school daily initiatives in the future. lane.” *according to a survey of all MVHS students Sophomore Vikramaditya Currently the conducted in spring 2017 Rajpal, who also bikes to school, top-priority project, says the physical changes in the bike the city hopes to begin installing these lanes next summer i f lanes near MVHS have helped make him all goes according to plan. These large- feel safer riding to school. “I think that [the bike lanes] made a scale plans are designed to make the city difference because there [wasn’t] much safer for bikers. “Historically, [Cupertino has] definitely room for you to overtake other bikes, and been geared towards cars and traffic,” that forces you to go onto the main road,” Stillman said. “Cupertino is your typical Rajpal said. “Now you have enough space suburban town which is built with wide to bike alongside another bike without streets and it’s definitely been vehicle- impeding the car traffic.” Lin also feels like the extra space in the centric but over the last five years or so it’s become more focused on accommodating lanes acts as an asset to student cyclists. “Cars usually don’t respect your space bikes and ped[estrians].” Walk-Bike Cupertino works on many as much as they should,” Lin said. “I’ve of the initiatives to promote biking in the had to tap on people’s cars because they city, while still paying attention to safety were right-turning into the bike lane and concerns. An entirely volunteer advocacy they just [didn’t look to see if I was there]. group, its goal is to encourage city leaders After the widening of lanes, I’ve noticed
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ON THE ROAD AGAIN S2RS coordinator Chelsea Biklen on biking safety
NEWS
that less.” groups of people and help promote safe While these changes to keep cyclists biking and walking for residents of all ages. safer may help, SR2S coordinator Chelsea He cites the recent education addition Biklen says that one of the most important in the Cupertino Union School District’s factors of keeping cyclists of all ages safe is programs as something that he hopes will biker education. Biklen’s job is to make safe help bring safer practices to kids. routes to and from school, as the program’s “[Students] start training in the first, name suggests. SR2S has long encouraged second, third grade, it’s more visual and safe biking, whether it be through hearing, just common training,” Dean said. incorporating bicycle safety education “But then sixth grade to seventh grade, into school time or hosting bike rodeos there’s like two hours of hands-on training. at elementary schools. At bike rodeos, So that’s one big element [in teaching children learn bike safety by practicing biking and pedestrian safety].” looking both directions and scanning the Similarly, SR2S also works with schools area while riding their bikes. to host Walk and Bike to School days, which “A lot of the MVHS takes part time, kids don’t in, where students SCAN FOR MORE learn that,” are rewarded for Biklen said. walking or biking to COVERAGE “I didn’t learn school (MVHS does that growing not take part in the up, for sure. reward aspect of [We’re] just putting some of the education the program). Ultimately, this event reduces and responsibility on kids as they’re growing traffic congestion near schools, further up so they learn to do that as they’re biking contributing to the safety of pedestrians throughout their lives.” and bikers. For high schoolers like those at While Biklen helps organize biker safety Homestead, bike stampedes allow students events for students, she believes that adults to lead groups of bikers that travel to school could benefit from the same lessons. SR2S from designated spots in neighborhoods, has developed educational pamphlets and allowing for added safety in numbers. materials, but Biklen remarks that this But for many such as Rajpal, the feeling doesn’t necessarily mean they will get read. of safety that has come from positive “The education for adults is a tough part changes in biking practices and abilities of the program to remedy and we’re really dissipates in certain situations around looking at what else we can do on that Cupertino, especially on the way to school. front,” Biklen said. “Maybe it’s hosting adult “On late start Wednesdays, I have to bicycle education classes because I know bike on Rainbow Drive and that’s really that most adults don’t feel comfortable crazy,” Rajpal said. riding on the roads themselves. That, a As Dean said, while the city is working lot of times, comes from just never really on solutions through various programs and learning how.” initiatives, the results from them may not Dean also mentioned that he would love be instant. to get more people from different parts “It’ll probably take five to 10 years to of the community involved in Walk-Bike really make it significantly different,” Dean in order to figure out how to reach other said. “Because things were built 50 years ago, and it takes a lot of time to change it.” e
Children and adults participate in the bike rodeo at the Cupertino library. Photo used with permission of Chelsea Biklen.
A map of current bike routes in the city shows the routes with the most traffic. Photo courtesy of Larry Dean.
Senior Justin Lin bikes along McClellan Road in front of MVHS. Lin bikes recreationally. Photo by Om Khandekar.
RULES OF THE ROAD
KEY AWARENESS
“I would recommend maybe going and practicing biking on very low-congested roads, maybe at times where there’s not a lot of congestion [...] and maybe going with multiple people out and just practicing riding together.”
“Scanning, signaling and knowing your position on the road are the three key ingredients to riding more safely. And keeping the mantra in mind to ‘drive your bike.’ [This means] actually treating yourself like you’re a vehicle out there on the road.” PHOTO I OM KHANDEKAR
NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2017
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BROKEN GROUND A glimpse at MVHS’ upcoming construction BY PRIYA REDDY AND ANKIT GUPTA
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he construction by the B building and the front of MVHS is beginning to wrap up and as the construction teams are placing the finishing touches on the first phase of the construction, they will soon begin the next two phases. This construction, funded by a bond that was passed in 2015, has been in the works for years and will help beautify and expand the campus to fit the needs of its students.
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The next phase of construction, which begins in February, will push out the entrance to the gym and add in aluminum and glass framing, similar to that in the cafeteria and the office. In addition, the void in the middle of the second floor of the gym will be filled in in order to create classrooms for leadership and ASB and to create a new dance studio with elevated floors, and a team locker room will be added to the balcony area that overlooks the main gym for any visiting teams to use. Downstairs in the gym lobby, there will be a concession and ticket stand built into the entryway, in addition to some display cases for MVHS athletic trophies. (A)
A Phase two of construction will see the addition of a big concrete stage area to the stairs close to the art buildings. The stage would be elevated and would have power outlets so that it can be used for student performances such as class skits or the talent show. (B) e 0t
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RALLY COURT
Ilustrations courtesy of DLM Architecture and information courtesy of April Scott
HOW ADULTS COPE WITH STUDENT STRESS The emotional cost of being a teacher BY JASMINE LEE AND PRIYA REDDY
PHOTO I JASMINE LEE
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is first few years at MVHS were home. We obviously [are] in this profession other counselors consider starting a mental stressful. The toll of working with because we care, and we care about our health group for teachers. students who shared their fears and students and we want to support them. You “We’re friends, we work closely with pressure with him resulted in a trip to the can’t just leave school and have that feeling everyone so I’ve a good network of staff emergency room with chest pains and a leave you.” on campus who will come in and talk to realization regarding his mental health. For Barron she often relies on her family me, and vent about things and I’ll vent to “I think it was because of [ the stress from at home for moral support. them,” Coscia said. “It’s nice to be able to the first few years],” MVHS student advocate “My poor husband gets to hear me vent share your day with people who have gone Richard Prinz said. “It was like hearing lots of about all kinds of things,” Barron said. through the same thing, or who understand problems all day long and going ‘Ohhh, what “Sometimes it’s really hard because [I’m] what you’re going through.” can I do, I can’t, you know I don’t know what so worried about if whether or not I said Coscia believes that having a large social to do, how could I help’ the right thing, or network is crucial in terms of moral support. and ‘Oh my gosh what [I] did the right “I think just having a really good social, if this happens, what if thing to help the supportive network that you can talk to, that happens’ all that students and to really makes the difference and makes the sort of static worry.” be supportive.” job a lot easier outside of school,” Coscia Teachers both teach Others, like said. and give guidance to Coscia, have As the school’s student advocate, Prinz the school. But they family members not only helps students emotionally, but are also people whose who work in the he also listens to and motivates parents, work follow them same field who teachers and other administrators. home. As educators, STUDENT ADVOCATE RICHARD PRINZ can relate to her Through longtime experiences and they are mandated experiences. accumulating knowledge, Prinz has learned to report any abuse or suicidal threats “I’m fortunate enough that my husband’s that listening and forgetting about people’s but beyond the legal, many have a vested a teacher,” Coscia said. “He has students personal issues is difficult. In fact Prinz has interested in helping students. going through the same thing, so we kind of organized free parenting classes starting According to history teacher Hilary vent to each other at the end of the day and Sept. 27 on Wednesday nights from 5:30 to Barron, students are less eager to talk to support each other, [giving] each other tips 7 p.m. in the school library. teachers about their personal lives. As a and ideas.” When dealing with emotional students, former Marquesas coach, Barron shares her As for Barron, she finds another way to Prinz finds his own ways to be supportive, perspective as a team advisor. relax by having a cutoff time after she leaves but at the same time, protect himself from “Sometimes students come and confide campus. being overwhelmed. in me,” Barron said. “I’ve had more of that “I don’t check email at home, like my “You want to have compassion,” when I was coaching. I think they saw me school email, so I try Prinz said. “You SCAN FOR MORE don’t want to be as a friend, so I had some students talk to to distance myself that me about personal issues and that can be way,” Barron said. “So separating yourself COVERAGE tough.” I don’t get drawn into from people Guidance counselor Jessica Coscia confrontations and because that’s not notices that when students share emotional things. I try as hard as I can to leave that stuff empathic. So there is a certain amount of experiences with her, she cannot help but at school.” sadness you might feel from what people are bring the feelings home. According to Coscia and Prinz, other going through. But you need to hold that in “It’s hard. Some days are easier than than receiving family support, school staff a way that it’s not concrete and all on [your] others,” Coscia said. “Sometimes students also encourage one another by having shoulders. Because it’s very complicated, come in and they share some very personal conversations with each other. The support problems are complicated, and there’s many things with you and it’s hard to not take that among staff members expands as Coscia and people involved.” e
YOU DON’T WANT TO BE SEPARATING YOURSELF FROM PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT’S NOT EMPATHIC.
NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2017
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THE COLLEGE CRAPSHOOT Affirmative action causes uncertainty for Asian American applicants BY CLAIRE CHANG AND OM KHANDEKAR
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n impending lawsuit against Harvard According to Christine Chai, professor University is headed to the Supreme of Asian American Studies and English at Court, arguing that affirmative action De Anza College, affirmative action goes has led top universities to discriminate beyond just discriminating against certain against Asian Americans to further racial races for the sake of diversity. In the college diversity on campuses. The plaintiffs in the application process, affirmative action is suit, an organization called Students for defined as using race as a factor to judge Fair Admissions, are requesting detailed the eligibility of a student’s admission to an records from four high schools known to institute of higher education. have high numbers of Asian American “I don’t believe it’s necessarily the students and a competitive atmosphere, only and best way to diversify and uplift according to the New York Times. marginalized communities, [but] it’s one of MVHS was one of those four schools. only few options that we have,” Chai said. Data such as an 83 percent Asian American “We can’t have equality when students from population and 50 percent of the 2018 class inner cities just don’t have the resources having a GPA higher than 3.6, according to compete with students who come from to the MVHS 2017-2018 School Profile, more privileged backgrounds, and [when] will be used to examine the acceptance the richness of our experiences at college rate of comparably qualified students or university is the diversity.” to universities across the country and to This idea of creating a level playing field determine whether race or ethnicity plays and eliminating racial bias is what led to a role in admissions. the development Both the of affirmative “I think we’re in a little bubble action policies in magnitude of the lawsuit and the here in Cupertino and I don’t the U.S. in 1961. debate concerning Princeton think that students are really Yet, affirmative action U n i v e rs i t y aware [about affirmative action], researchers found that it arouses have caused more scrutiny Honestly, I think that most that removing race towards communities students you talk to on campus from the decision with high minority process benefited wouldn’t have any idea what Asian Americans, representation, like in Cupertino. raising the average affirmative action is.” H o w e v e r , acceptance rate according to guidance GUIDANCE COUNSELOR to top universities counselor Jessica from 18 to 23 JESSICA COSCIA Coscia, the impacts percent. The 2005 of both the lawsuit study notes that, and the bigger conversation surrounding while affirmative action helps Hispanic and affirmative action have yet to reach the African American students get into college, students of MVHS. it negatively affects Asian Americans. “I think we’re in a little bubble here in In Coscia’s eyes, these negative Cupertino and I don’t think that students repercussions towards Asian American are really aware [about affirmative action],” students are “shocking,” but there is a lack Coscia said. “Honestly, I think that most of clarity and understanding that exists students you talk to on campus wouldn’t surrounding the concept of affirmative have any idea what affirmative action is.” action and how it affects Asian American
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students among those at MVHS. Out of 378 MVHS students surveyed, 41 percent don’t know what affirmative action is. Senior Avik Jain, however, believes that the increased exposure and effects of affirmative action on the MVHS community has led to a more educated and opinionated student body. “When people see how policies affect them, then they start to have a strong opinion about it,” Jain said. “If it was a white students versus black students thing, and that was where most of the impact was seen, then students at MVHS wouldn’t care as much. I think at MVHS people feel the impact of it the most, and therefore they have [negative] opinions about it.” Jain’s ideas highlight the extent that affirmative action policies affect MVHS students, and how this student perception towards affirmative action dictates their actions and reactions toward college admissions. “Even though I know my race might have a negative impact [on my college admissions], I think I’m highly qualified in a number of other ways,” Jain said. “So I’m not going to say that Harvard won’t admit me and therefore I won’t apply; no, that’s not how I think. And I don’t think anyone actually takes that into account when they’re making their decisions to apply.” While Jain is the in the middle of the college application process, Chai, a UC Berkeley alumnus, recalls feeling “unjustly affected” by affirmative action when she was deferred to second semester, although her views have shifted as a result of continued ethnic study. She said that a lot of Asian Americans have the perception that they’re being targeted by affirmative action because their hard work gets passed over to prioritize other communities and minorities of color. From personal experience, Chai understands how it can be difficult to educate someone about the benefits
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION | OM KHANDEKAR
of affirmative action when they feel as though they’ve been wronged by the system. According to Chai, making college admissions equitable in opportunity is necessary and higher education is where reform needs to start — especially in society’s goals to diversify the workplace. While the Harvard lawsuit has started new discourse about Asian Americans and affirmative action policies, the solution to maintaining equality in our current society has yet to be found. Despite the predominantly Asian American population here, at the end of the day, Coscia believes that students shouldn’t be worrying about the role of affirmative action in their future. “I don’t want students to freak out and worry that they are not going to get accepted into college because they’re Asian,” Coscia said. “I want them to concentrate their efforts on their applications and doing the best they can academically — following their passions and doing all of that stuff — and the right college will pick you. If they don’t like what you have and they don’t want you to be there because you’re an Asian student, then to hell with them, you don’t want to go there anyway.” e
NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2017
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SEARCHING FOR
answers
Google helps raise awareness about depression
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t’s hard to believe the first month of school is already over. With North Korea and the U.S. on the verge of a nuclear war just a week before white supremacists paraded the streets of Charlottesville, calling the news intense would be an understatement. Even if I manage to get away from all the craziness, I’m finding it more difficult to find a lighter side of the news. I was checking my news feed between classes like any other day — dreading seeing another somber story. Among the blur of CNN notifications and Facebook status updates, an article by The New York Post caught my attention: “Google will now ask if you’re depressed.” At first I was caught off guard — why had I heard nothing about this? But looking back, I don’t know why I was so surprised. It was typical, almost guaranteed, that smaller and more positive stories like this one would be lost among the offensive rhetoric that’s become so abundant. In case you missed it like I almost did, Google announced on Aug. 23 that it was
I do agree with some of the criticism — implementing a minute change to their mobile services. After an increase in Google Google should not be a primary source of searches on “how to commit suicide,” the medical advice, but a resource to find the best search engine changed how people would information online — but the questionnaire helps people more than anything else. As view their results on depression. Now, in addition to the definition much as I’d like to see Google make the and Knowledge Panel, when Googling depression quiz the first and largest thing on your screen, it’s “depression” on a mobile still beneficial and a device, a questionnaire good change. pops up. It took a few This isn’t the first minutes for me to see time someone with the small link prompting a large audience has you to “check if you’re taken a stance to clinically depressed,” but help those dealing for those who do, it can be with depression, and a complete life-saver. it definitely won’t be Also known as the Parent the last. Hip hop Health Questionnaire 9, SENIOR NATE STEVENS artist Logic’s most the PHQ-9 is a survey that helps doctors diagnose patients with popular song to date, titled “1-800-273clinical depression. Google teamed up with 8255” after the national suicide hotline the National Alliance on Mental Illness number, is about depression and suicidal (NAMI) to help create the questionnaire in an thoughts. I know that personally, I’d take the effort to raise awareness about depression words of a celebrity I know more seriously — which according to NAMI, affects one than the generic advice from Google. While Google has a much larger influence in five Americans, only half of which than I do, not every story on the news gets receive treatment. to the people who need to hear it the most. CLINICAL DEPRESSION BY THE NUMBERS It’s impossible to say That’s the reason I wanted to highlight this how many lives could small change by Google — to help bring be saved by adding awareness in any way I can. I have had this questionnaire, friends come to me and tell me that they but if a single person didn’t want to live or say that they’ve thought reconsiders ending about committing suicide. As hard as it is adults in the U.S. have major their life because of it, to talk about, depression is a real and very depressive disorder.* serious issue. As a society, we need to do isn’t that all worth it? I was surprised more to bring attention to depression rather to hear that the than sweep it under the rug just because questionnaire has it’s a sensitive topic. Google has laid the received some groundwork for change to occur, but it is our criticism as well. job to make sure it actually does. It may not seem like much: a song or a twice as likely to be depressed Accusing Google of link on Google. But to those actually dealing not being the best as men of the same age.* medium for people with depression, it could be the thing that to get their medical makes them talk to an adult or a doctor to advice, psychcentral. get help. With all the hate and bigotry that’s com writes that “when sprouting up around the world, I always love Google...become[s] to see some positivity in the news. e a publisher of mental of people with depression health information, it recieve no treatment.* needs to be held to the same standards of other online health *According to the National Aliance for Mental Illness publishers.”
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EL ESTOQUE | SEPTEMBER 2017
TAKING THE LEAD
Trump is ruining our country once again BY SONGJUN NA
Trump is at it again. On Sept. 5, Jeff Sessions revealed the latest plan to end the DACA program implemented by the Obama administration in six months if Congress doesn’t find a more permanent solution. In other words, hundreds of thousands of immigrants could be deported back to the countries they may never have known. The President is suppose to be our ally – someone to look up to – but at this rate, Trump is slowly becoming an enemy. It’s truly terrifing. e
Opinion
SAME OLD
OPINION | SEPTEMBER 2017
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SNOW Examining the fine line between being careful with our words and becoming hypersensitive “snowflakes”
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e would like to say there isn’t a problem with bubbles. After all, they’re safe, protecting us from the outside world. Without bubbles, we wouldn’t feel that sense of comfort that comes with being able to assume someone’s personal or political views. It makes conversations easier within the community. But with consideration to the greater part of the world outside Cupertino, our bubble breeds ignorance. In the largely liberal Bay Area, our bubble has made us hypersensitive to any conversation about controversial topics like gender or race. We are hyper-aware of even the slightest discriminatory remark. It’s taught us to tread lightly, choosing our words carefully. Some might even say that we’ e become snow a es a term used to describe liberals who are offended easily. While our hypersensitivity is partly due to the political demographics of the Bay rea and more specifically it is mainly because we aren’t truly aware of what discrimination is. Severe prejudice is so rare here that it can be easy to mistake small acts of inequality as outright racism. We live in a place where some people accuse others of being racist when in fact they simply mistake two friends of the same race as siblings. It’s easy to blame race when we’re so used to our typically equal community, but the privilege that comes with an educated environment also leaves us much more unaware about what is and isn’t racism. It’s only when we start to accuse
everything of being a personal attack that it create a more equal place for everyone. becomes a problem. There are people all over the world he recent lawsuit filed against ar ard who have to deal with prejudice so severe — accuses colleges of not accepting students that they fear for their lives daily. It is both because of their race — is just one of many insensitive to victims of discrimination and examples of our society calling out small, counterproductive as a whole to constantly almost inconsequential, instances of potential dilute Facebook and Twitter feeds with prejudice. While Harvard may or may not posts calling the women only screening of have taken race into account, that story has onder oman sexist his achie es gotten an abundance of media attention. nothing. But more importantly, it makes the To put things in perspective, a group of much more serious acts of hate look more klansmen and neo-Nazis killed Heather inconsequential than it should be. Heyer and injured 19 other protesters in It shouldn’t be surprising that people were Charlottesville just astounded a few weeks later. by all the Clearly, these bigotry and two events are hate that anything but followed comparable. One the 2016 OPINION OF THE EL ESTOQUE resulted in death election. and injury while the The vast EDITORIAL BOARD other resulted in a majority rejection from Harvard University. Yet, they of the pre udice that people had seen are seemingly getting equal airplay on social before then was trivial acts of inequality, so media — at least in Cupertino. when blatant racism was blasting on CNN, it While pointing out every minor injustice shocked many people. and small act of inequality may seem like a In Cupertino, our lives work in the way righteous thing to do, more than anything, that our Facebook news feeds do — the it desensitizes us to the larger and more important things are slowly becoming important instances of discrimination. These drowned out alongside our complaints and more serious and hurtful cases of prejudice jokes. So when both major and minor acts deserve the spotlight — not to say that other of discrimination present themselves, we instances of bigotry are not important — shouldn’t equate them as the same. because they are. But bringing attention If there is anything to learn from the to the worst problems in our society helps recent increase of hate that has shocked our
STAFF EDITORIAL
MONTICELLO BUILDING IN
CHARLOTTESVILLE
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EL ESTOQUE | SEPTEMBER 2017
WED IN nation, it’s that we need to keep everything in perspective. While the Cupertino bubble has taught us to be extremely careful with our words, there is a fine line between being careful and being hypersensitive. So the next time we witness something potentially discriminating we should take a minute, stop and think to ourselves: “is pointing this out going to help solve the issue or just trivialize it more?” Maybe those small incidents can be accredited to someone else’s innate racism. While that inherent racism is problematic, we are still a long way from fixing people’s natural prejudice. In the meantime, our complaints should be targeted towards more pressing issues. There are countless hateful incidents happening every day just because of race. Some are dire and some are a lot less so. Every time we complain about our own, less than life-threatening, problems, it numbs us to the fact that somewhere in this world, the color of someone’s skin could be the difference between life and death. e
HARVARD
ILLUSTRATION | ILENA PENG
MVHS
OPINION | SEPTEMBER 2017
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REPUTATIONS : PROTESTS MVHS students share their views on protests BY ILENA PENG AND NATE STEVENS
PROTESTS IN ONE WORD
FREEDOM POWERFUL LOUD
PASSIONATE CHAOTIC EMPOWERING CHANGE NECESSARY *
PROTEST ATTENDANCE
19
%
of students have attended a protest According to a survey of 397 MVHS students
9
of students consider protests dangerous
65
%
of students think protests are only a little effective at prompting action According to a survey of 328 MVHS students
WHY DO YOU GO TO PROTESTS?
HOW SAFE DID YOU FEEL AT A PROTEST?
%
PROTEST EFFICIENCY
28 TO... %
of students consider protests to be safe
*According to a survey of 80 MVHS students who have been to protests. They answered on a 10-point scale, one being the most dangerous and 10 being the safest. The percentages above correspond with those who answered one and 10.
MEDIA PORTRAYAL OF PROTESTS IN ONE WORD
SUPPORT A GOOD CAUSE
HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD FIGHT FOR WHAT IS RIGHT SHOW PEOPLE THEY AREN’T ALONE
NEGATIVELY VIOLENT REBELLIOUS DANGEROUS CHAOTIC BIASED*
PROTEST WRONGS IN OUR SOCIETY PROTECT THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE RAISE AWARENESS FOR A PRESSING ISSUE HELP MAKE POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE WORLD
*The sizes of these words correspond with the frequency with which they appeared in the survey
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EL ESTOQUE | SEPTEMBER 2017
NINE TO FIVE
PHOTO | MALLIKA SINGH
Why some MVHS students choose internships over paid jobs BY AKSHARA MAJJIGA AND MALLIKA SINGH
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hether it’s interning at Facebook or different from one encountered in the world more specifically doing an internship would performing autopsies in Stanford’s beyond high school. The high socioeconomic give me more experience in the field I want hospitals, many students seek status of the MVHS area may be to blame to go into and I thought that this would be a summer programs or internships, either to or students and their parents may truly just better use of my summer than just staying at explore a certain field or to add another item value the experience of a summer program home and working somewhere where I’d be to their college applications. Paid jobs on the over a job. paid minimum wage,” Dasari said. other hand, tend to be overlooked. However, this is not just a local trend. Junior Christina Wu, however, sees the While it might not seem as fancy as Across the country, value in both working at Stanford or Facebook, getting students have been jobs and SCAN FOR MORE real job experience shouldn’t necessarily choosing summer classes. This be overlooked simply for this reason. classes and internships summer, she COVERAGE For example, having a job working at a over jobs, a trend so participated restaurant or daycare center allows people significant it has been in a six week to experience that one can’t always get picked up by The art program from an internship or summer program. Atlantic and USA Today. According to The at the Rhode Island School of Design. Senior Aurum Kathuria worked at Outback Atlantic, since 1978, the number of teens Though she received a full scholarship, she Steakhouse over the summer and explained in the workforce has shrunk by 25 percent, recognizes that summer programs are not the unique experience having a summer job but the number of teens enrolled in summer always a great option for a lot of families has given him. classes has tripled in the last 20 years. financially. For this reason, Wu plans on “I feel like having a job has been more Still, senior Neha Dasari sees value in looking for a job next summer in order to than just the money for me,” Kathuria her recent internship. This summer, Dasari gain new experiences and make money. said. “It’s also a worked at a startup There is a spot on college applications new way to make firm, that asks students to list their jobs as well as [I WAS] ABLE TO BUILD SOME investment some really cool Ventures, internships. Both these opportunities have IMPORTANT CONNECTIONS Dreamit friends that I met and was able to live their own benefits depending on what one is THAT I THOUGHT WOULD on the University of looking for. This is a common misconception from other schools. [I was] able to build BE SIGNIFICANT WHEN Pennsylvania campus. among MVHS students as only 34 percent some important was less interested from a survey of 365 believe that colleges IT COMES TO NOT ONLY She connections that I in a job in Cupertino consider jobs very important while 43 COLLEGE APPLICATIONS because she believed percent from a survey of 368 students thought would be significant when it BUT UNDERSTANDING MY that as an employee at believe that internships are more important comes to not only or store, to colleges. LIFE, MY FUTURE AND HOW I asherestaurant college applications would be unable “Both things you can get something out SHOULD VIEW THINGS but understanding to gain experience in of,” Wu said. “At a summer program, you’re my life, my future her specific interest: learning things, but at a job, you can learn SENIOR AURUM KATHURIA and how I should business. The wide things while making money at the same time, view things. ” range of internships and you can also gain work experience. So I But at MVHS there seems to be a tendency and summer programs available to high think they’re both really good choices.” e to move away from paid work experience school students allows students like Dasari to in favor of classes or internships, which, understand more about the industry which besides being less cost efficient, also provides they are interested in. a working environment that is significantly “I thought doing a summer program or OPINION | SEPTEMBER 2017
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THE F--BOMB
TEACHERS AND STUDENTS EXPLORE SWEARING AT SCHOOL BY ZARA IQBAL AND CLAIRE YANG
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EL ESTOQUE | SEPTEMBER 2017
“F---.” “B----.” “Bull----.” “A--.” These words can be heard echoing around campus, popping unceremoniously out of both students’ and teachers’ mouths. “Holy s---.” There goes one. “F--- yeah, dude.” There goes another. But are these words acceptable, especially in an educational environment? Sophomore Andy Zhang thinks that it’s unrealistic for teachers to expect students not to swear as they might break the rule themselves. He believes that swearing is conditionally appropriate, for example when one is under pressure. “I started [swearing] in eighth grade and I did it as the stress increased in my life,” Zhang said. “I’ll swear when I’m frustrated, but I’ll talk normally when I’m not.” Similarly to Zhang, freshman Anura Ghodke started swearing in eighth grade. However, after reflecting on her choices, she thinks the words may have a larger effect than others realize. “I didn’t [swear] to be cool or fit in or anything, but it just kind of started influencing my language,” Ghodke said. “I realized that they are words, but they do have some connotation, and may create a negative environment.” Ghodke mentions that some of her friends tend to distance themselves from others who swear often. For students who don’t feel comfortable swearing, it may create an unfriendly environment. According to a survey of 395 MVHS students, 35 percent say they swear often. Senior Siddesh Shankar uses swear words in everyday conversation to communicate stronger feelings. He has heard teachers swear in class before, and thinks it can be beneficial in relaying something specific. “It just makes it easier sometimes to make a point,” Shankar said. “I don’t mind the language. I think sometimes it does affect [my opinion of the teachers who use swear words] positively more than negatively.” Even though math teacher Katie Collins allows swearing to express positivity, or frustration, she is strongly against cursing
used against others. She says that when yeah!’” Collins said. “Because it’s cool! “I think sometimes [when teachers she and her husband argue, she has never And sometimes swear words are the best swear] it’s pretty funny, and I understand used a curse word, and never will. Collins demonstration of extremism.” them from where I come from,” Zhang believes that there’s potential hostility On the contrary, Tanabe says that if said. “But as long as they don’t do it in when choosing to express anger using she catches students swearing excessively, abundance, it’s alright. It makes them more curse words, because those emotions may she’ll call them out on it, but she also human. It shows that they have flaws as allow people to lose control. well.” believes that “Where swearing I think is really an issue it While Zhang ultimately is when we choose to use swear words in depends doesn’t think on extremes of negative situations [...] where self expression that a teacher someone might turn to someone and be and swearing is the like, ‘You’re a s--- head,’” Collins said. “Now person’s own necessarily a bad we’re using language to demean [or] hurt judgement. thing, he also says someone else, and that’s unacceptable. that using explicit “Certainly, The use of the word s--- now becomes an s a y i n g words excessively emphasis on extremism of making a point, e x p l i c a t i v e s can interfere to go out of the way to hurt someone else.” every with students’ other On the other hand, Ghodke thinks word of the mood in class teachers should be cautious about swearing end of every and prevent them in the classroom. from absorbing sentence is “I’d be shocked, honestly, [if one of my not called for,” the material well. teachers swore in class], because they’re Tanabe said. H oweve r, supposed to be an example for the students “But if there’s Collins gives and they shouldn’t be swearing,” Ghodke s o m e t h i n g students great said. “I probably would still take them you’re really words of seriously, because at the end of the day, trying encouragement, to they still are my teachers, but I’d look at express, let’s e s p e c i a l l y them in a different way.” when they’re FRESHMAN ANURA GHODKE say you’re English teacher Jireh Tanabe claims that really angry or struggling, even it’s rare for her to swear in her classroom, you’re really if they sometimes and when she does, the reason has to be upset about something, then it’s something contain a swear word. She’s sure that her serious. However, she does indicate that you have to gauge, whether or not it’s enthusiasm for math won’t make her out to swearing isn’t always used negatively, and appropriate to use.” be a bad person, but just as someone who can be a form of self expression, especially Shankar uses swear words commonly loves math with a passion. in literature. “We should be careful to not summarily in his friend groups, but is very cautious “I think part of it is creative expression with his words around teachers. Since dismiss people as good or bad because and not just cuss to cuss,” Tanabe said. “I most of his teachers have strict rules about they use swear words,” Collins said, “Again, think words have their places in how we swearing, he is afraid of the consequences it should go back to the heart of your express ourselves, that come with intention and use of your language and or how we want breaking those your behavior, at the end of the day.” e our characters, or SCAN FOR MORE rules. how we want our “I think that COVERAGE expressions to be, so adults don’t really in that context, it’s like [it]when kids understandable.” swear,” Shankar Like Tanabe, said. “I feel like Collins thinks that swearing is condonable when they were growing up, they didn’t when it comes to expressing certain use that kind of language, but that’s what emotions. Collins swears in the classroom they tell us, at least, so I feel like they don’t while expressing excitement, and in her really want to promote that.” experiences, specifically after solving a On the other hand, Zhang says that when challenging math problem. he lets out a swear word by accident, his “When I have a kid that is doing a math teachers don’t make it a big deal, because problem, and they’re really excited and they swear on occasion well. He thinks they finally get to the answer, [...] they when teachers swear in class, it doesn’t go, ‘F--- yeah!’ [and] I’m like, ‘Yeah! F--- make them less qualified of a teacher.
“I DIDN’T [SWEAR] TO BE COOL OR FIT IN OR ANYTHING, BUT IT JUST KIND OF STARTED INFLUECING MY LANGUAGE. I REALIZED THAT THEY ARE WORDS, BUT THEY DO HAVE SOME CONNOTATION, AND MAY CREATE A NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENT.”
OPINION | SEPTEMBER 2017
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FEATURES
Fear dissected Fear can be found in people of all ages. Some see fear as a positive, seeking the thrill of a horror film or a roller coaster barreling towards the ground at breakneck speed. Others condemn the emotion, terrified of the endless blue ocean or the steep fall below a range of mountains. Sometimes, these fears may be irrational and extreme in the form of a phobia. No matter what form these fears take, they each present a unique look into the inner workings of our minds. They function as a sneak peek into our most vulnerable thoughts and emotions. These are our fears, dissected.
FEATURES | SEPTEMBER 2017 SECTION | SEPTEMBER 2017
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FIGHTING FEars The effect phobias have on daily life BY SWARA TEWARI AND EMILY XIA
Pil ILLUSTRATION | EMILY XIA
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EL ESTOQUE | SEPTEMBER 2017
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he world flies by in a blur as of time and remain calm in socially-toxic Lillian presses her face against situations. Having parents who argue the cool glass of the car constantly only heightens her phobia. “[My dad] and my mom will get into window. As the seconds pass, her parents’ voices rise from a heated arguments,” Lillian said. “And I’m an only conversation to reverberating child, so I’ll always get stuck in the car yells, drowning out the music. [during a fight]. If a fight happens, then I Lillian’s mind goes blank and her can’t do my homework after. I just can’t thoughts scatter, voices echoing concentrate on anything.” The emotionally unstable atmosphere in her mind. Her heart beats wildly, her hands clenched in Lillian has grown up in has shaped her fists. Gasping for breath, she phobia and caused her to fear social fumbles for her earphones interaction. Due to Lillian’s social phobia, and jams them into her ears. these family issues are amplified in her The soothing music flows head, consuming her mind. Lillian’s dad through her mind, calming her is a heavy drinker and often attends stumbling thoughts and the concerts. Lillian explains that he behaves voices in her head are silenced. in a brash manner afterward. “My mom and I normally have to go and Lillian is a student at MVHS who harbors an pick him up [from the concerts.] So one extreme phobia, or an time, we were driving along and [my dad irrational fear. She has asked and his friend] were making very drunk to remain anonymous, so for comments,” Lillian said. “I was freaking the purposes of this story, out internally. I was hyperventilating, she’ll be referred to as Lillian. constrictions in my chest and I could not Lillian has social anxiety, handle it at all. I was over-exaggerating it which, according to the Social in my head.” Lillian is not alone in having an extreme Anxiety Association, is the phobia of being negatively judged phobia that has impacted her daily life. According to the National Institute of by other people. Mental Health, Her phobia IF I HAVE PROLONGED approximately four originated, not from one traumatic PERIODS OF JUST to five percent of people in the U.S. event, but over TALKING, MY CHEST have one or more a period of time, WILL CONSTRICT AND significant phobias, slowly escalating. “In seventh I’LL HAVE TROUBLE and teens are most susceptible to these grade, I had this BREATHING. IT JUST GETS irrational fears. very mean friend S t u d e n t who was very VERY OVERWHELMING e m o t i o n a l l y AND MY HEART WILL advocate Richard Prinz is an expert a b u s i v e , ” START RACING. about phobias and Lillian said. their impact on “She constantly ANONYMOUS SOURCE people. He has helped blamed me for her depression — she constantly students acknowledge and overcome put me down. I was scared to their phobias. Additionally, he himself has go to school everyday. That experience with relentless phobias. “A phobia is defined as an irrational transferred into an irrational fear or relentless dread of a situation, fear.” Having social anxiety, creature, place or thing,” Prinz said. Lillian finds it difficult “Social phobia would affect [someone] to handle one-on-one daily. I’ve met some people like that, conversations for large periods where it’s hard [for them] to interact.”
Phobias incorporate themselves into “With my grandma living with us, it daily life in varying degrees. Some phobias, gets very frustrating because we both [my such as social phobia, are difficult to avoid, mom and I] have to take care of her. I will as they become inextricably entwined in a get very overwhelmed when my grandma person’s routine. asks for too much when I have prior “I have very high-functioning social obligations,” Lillian said. “So my mom will anxiety so I can do daily activities; it’s just drive us out. We usually just drive and just constantly in the back of my mind,” get ice cream. But it’s just getting out of Lillian said. “If I have prolonged periods that situation.” of just talking, my chest will constrict and Prinz explains that people who have I’ll have trouble breathing. It gets very extreme phobias need to develop coping overwhelming, my mechanisms, to heart will always ensure that they I KNOW THERE’S A STIGMA have a method start racing.” Prinz explains ABOUT THE MIND, WE THINK to regain control that phobias do ‘I DON’T WANT ANYBODY TO of their mind. not always develop He describes his as a response KNOW. I DON’T WANT ANYONE own experiences to personal TO THINK I’M CRAZY. as a child, when experiences. he was influenced situations where I’m not comfortable,” He reveals that STUDENT ADVOCATE by his mother’s Lillian said. “A lot of my other friends have phobias can also RICHARD PRINZ phobia and how other mental problems, like depression, be learned. he is beginning to anxiety, so we can all relate. It’s finding “[People with phobias] could have slowly face his fears. friends with similar interests to you. They’ll learned it from a family member who “My mom, when my dad went out, she understand you and have a deeper bond has a fear, and then they pick up that fear,” would go to the neighbor’s and stay there,” with you.” Prinz said. “My mom was afraid of Prinz said. “She was very social and was Lillian explains that though she has being alone, so I noticed that when I got always being with people. When I became encountered older, I was afraid of being alone. I thought an adult, I started to see that countless it was my fear, but it was something if I was alone, SCAN FOR MORE obstacles her I learned.” I started to get COVERAGE phobia has While Prinz’s phobia was learned, anxious. I think thrown her phobias can have other origins. Senior Esha the mark of it is way, through Desai has an extreme case of cynophobia, you start to feel it all, she’s the phobia of dogs. Desai explains how her anxious, because it’s an anxiety learned to trust people and look for the phobia developed in her childhood. disorder. So that was when I saw that I best in them. “I think I was around 11 years old,” Desai caught it. I’ve been working on it by putting “Know that you have a support said. “I used to live in India and I lived in myself in situations where I’m alone, system,” Lillian said. “I know it’s hard to an apartment complex. I was going to visit doing meditation retreats and being in the say, but don’t be afraid to tell people [about a friend’s house when a dog suddenly ran mountains and cabins.” phobias] because normally they’re very from upstairs. I was probably on the 20th Prinz explains that while minor phobias understanding. Just know that everyone or 19th floor, and I was really scared so I can be controlled through individualized accepts you.” e started running down. I continued to run methods, at one point, a person cannot down 19 floors, and at that point I didn’t face a phobia alone and requires know that dogs think you’re playing with professional help. Lillian has been attending them if you’re running with them.” therapy for several years now. She finds Although every phobia triggers a therapy sessions improve her well-being response of some degree, certain people tremendously. He recommends not bottling have more drastic responses. Due to Desai’s up fears and being open. extreme response to dogs, she has to take “I know there’s a stigma about the precautions to ensure that her phobia does mind,” Prinz said. “If we have a physical not take control of her mind. thing, we go to the doctor, but if we’re “Whenever I go to [my friends’] houses, struggling with something mental, we think they have to put their dogs in a different ‘I don’t want anybody to know. I don’t want room or I have to go to a different room,” anyone to think I’m crazy.’” Desai said. “Even at school when they bring Lillian explains that having a closein the dogs for a day, I usually walk 100 feet knit group of friends who understand her away.” has helped her cope with her phobia. Meanwhile, Lillian experiences panic Lillian relies heavily on her friends and is attacks as a result of her phobia. For always accompanied by a “support person” Lillian, family contributes to her phobia, whenever she is in an unfamiliar situation. both helping her control her phobia — and “All my friends are very accepting of being a cause of her panic attacks. my anxiety and they never push me into FEATURES | SEPTEMBER 2017
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FEAR ME NOT Students discuss their fears in the midst of social change BY SHUVI JHA
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stones. But more than that, he struck this difference between changing yourself chord in me, and I realized that no amount because you want to, and changing yourself of experience can change a person’s belief because others want you to.” unless they want to change it themselves.” Spanish teacher Molly Guadiamos After arriving at that conclusion, Ali couldn’t agree more. Seven words. “I don’t care where you’re from, or who Seven words was all it took to land joined forces with other Muslim students then seventh-grader Sophia Powell in the at MVHS to lead the Muslim Student you are,” Guadiamos said. “As a Jew, I know what it feels like to be historically backseat of her teacher’s classroom with Association, a club dedicated to victimized, so if you need me, know that I tears in her eyes. Dejected and alone, she raising awareness about the Islamic will do anything I can to help you.” sat in her seat, replaying the boy’s words in faith and the message it relays. “I wanted people to look Even with help available, it is a wellher mind — thinking about how he didn’t known fact that to be considered an want to be in a group with her because she at the ordinary Muslim, and [I “alien” in one’s own country can come was Caucasian and female. Initially Powell wanted] to implore them to not with a sense of otherness and can be a was unable to comprehend his intent, but judge Islam by its followers, but grueling experience. Powell understands when the realization of the moment gradually by its content,” Ali said. “Because if you actually understand the this and remarks that no matter where an sank in, a blank expression swept across her individual comes from, in her eyes, they face as she felt her throat tighten. Paralyzed religion, you’ll learn that the Quran are all American and subject to the same by this tragic feeling of isolation, she closed is truly promoting the beliefs America laws as any other race. her eyes until she felt hot tears fall down her has as well, like peace.” Despite her effort, Ali admits that In return, she cheeks like a river escaping a dam. expects others to “That was the day I realized what my it will take more than just a couple of realize that her pale, truest fears were,” Powell said. “It wasn’t students to combat xenophobia, as it white skin does not racism or sexism as others might believe. is deeply ingrained in Western society. in any way measure What I was scared of the most was that Powell agrees, citing that negative her intelligence, all those stereotypes people have about beliefs have become so influential in American lifestyles that individuals determine her personality Caucasians are actually true, that they no longer have the freedom to or decide her aspirations. actually apply to my life.” If anything, it simply Defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary fully express themselves and their reflects her ancestry. as “an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced respective interests. “Around others, I act more mature “A lot of people attitude or uncritical judgment,” stereotypes say I have it easy play a vital role in human development. for my age just to get the same amount because I’m So vital, in fact, that they can be utilized of respect others do,” Powell said. “I white,” Powell to portray an individual as the enemy and act smarter so that people will think said. “They mask feelings of fear. And for junior Hira Ali, of me as an equal, and I act all putexpec t a Muslim-American of Pakistani descent, together when I don’t feel that way at all.” me that’s exactly what stereotypes did — they Ali faces a similar dilemma, in stimulated fear. Born in the United States, Ali is among which she deliberates whether to the millions of Muslims whose emergence follow so-called American practices t o from childhood has coincided with a or uphold her Islamic beliefs. While she herself has remained true to her b e violent surge of cultural origins so living a Islamophobia. As far, Ali recognizes perfect life, but a result, she has that she is among what they don’t had to contend the few, for many, if understand is with anti-Muslim not most Muslims, that I’m not sentiment, putting constantly forsake dumb because her best face their personal I’m white, forward to avoid identities in order or beautiful harassment. to fit in. because I’m white “Last summer, SOPHOMORE SOPHIA POWELL “What pains or rich because an elderly I’m white. I am gentleman began pressuring me to take me more than anything is seeing who I am, and off my scarf,” Ali said. “He said that I was other Muslims change the way they being Caucasian is oppressing myself, that I was in America are just to please others,” Ali said. just a tiny part of a so I should act that way. He made false “This is painful to me because, first of all, there’s no real definition bigger whole.” e accusations, claiming that women in the Middle East get beaten by sticks and of American individualism. ILLUSTRATION | PRIYA REDDY And second, there’s a huge
hite people are dumb — everyone knows that.
I AM WHO I AM, AND BEING CAUCASIAN IS JUST A TINY PART OF A BIGGER WHOLE
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FEAr BUSTERS
ILLUSTRATION | ELIZABETH HAN
“What I like is a horror movie that puts ideas in my head that are very uncomfortable or visuals that you can never get rid of,” Shelton said. “Some people just like the thrill. To me, it’s more psychological. It’s the ideas.” While Shelton values a horror movie’s BY CHARLOTTE CHUI ability to evoke emotions, Chen admits she was initially wary about watching them or most, the word fear evokes an Despite the fear that roller coasters evoke because of this. However, after being tricked immediate mental image, whether it in Guo, she continues to ride them. She into watching her first horror movie by a be public speaking or failing a test. notes that though she’s well aware of the friend, her opinion changed completely. The image that comes to mind likely spurs a safety precautions, “It was really strong reaction: heart racing, face flushing, her emotions still surprising to see IF ANYTHING CAN MAKE YOU hands trembling. And yet, despite this occasionally get the what [horror movies] FEEL THAT AFRAID, ISN’T THAT response, the oddity of fear is how many best of her. are actually like,” people actively seek out or even crave it. When Guo finds WORTH CHECKING OUT? Chen said. “When From haunted houses to roller coasters, herself in these I saw all the really ART TEACHER JAY SHELTON fear is the driving force behind many forms situations, she jumps gory details, it was of entertainment. Sophomore Angela Guo in headfirst, looking like, ‘Whoa, this is turns to an amusement park classic, roller back to her first time on a roller coaster and pretty interesting.’ It drew me in, and after coasters, for her fear fix. viewing it as an opportunity to push herself that first initial encounter, I just kept going Her encounters with them can be traced and confront her fear head on. back every night.” back to a middle school field trip to Great “Afterwards, I [felt] like I accomplished This immersive aspect that initially drew America, where she was wracked with nerves my fear of heights,” Guo said. “I’ll go back to Chen in is also something that also appeals about riding a roller coaster for the first time. the roller coaster, even though it’s sometimes to Shelton. Guo’s mind spurred endless possibilities. scary, since I can get more experience and “I like movies that are so well-crafted or so What if the roller coaster flips over? What if I have more time to explore my limits.” strong in some element or another that they get too nauseous? Eventually, Guo managed take you away, that you can get into them,” to put those thoughts aside and rode her first BIG SCREEN, BIG SCARE Shelton said. “Just really smart directors that roller coaster, coming to enjoy the thrill of While Guo prefers roller coasters, go to horrible places. They’re frightening.” the experience. sophomore Elena Chen looks to horror The fear that these movies evoke is “I can feel the adrenaline, the excitement movies as her method of seeking out fear. ultimately reflected in the viewer’s physical of going up in the sky,” Guo said. “But “I like being scared, actually,” Chen reactions as well. sometimes I get nervous. My heartbeat’s said. “Even though I get scared really “[I’m] very tense and constantly expecting fast. How I feel — it’s more heightened.” easily, I just like watching it with friends and something to suddenly pop out,” Chen said. For Guo, her nervousness is a culmination [experiencing] the horror together.” “You’re on the edge of your chair. It’s pretty of safety concerns and her preexisting fear Art teacher Jay Shelton, who also turns scary because [my friends and I] always of heights. She to horror movies watch them at nighttime, so the environment SCAN FOR MORE shares that even for entertainment, itself creeps you out.” looking down from expresses a slightly Regardless of the reactions that fear COVERAGE the balcony of her different sentiment. elicits, the human desire to feel and crave house scares her, Though he does emotion is what drives Shelton to keep so her fear of heights, only further amplified sometimes enjoy jumpscares that elicit an seeking it out. on a roller coaster, influences her experience. initial thrill, listing “Jaws” as an example, he “Everybody wants to feel emotions when “Sometimes I get this scenario in my head,” views movies that rely heavily on jumpscares they see a movie, whether it’s sad or horror Guo said. “What if the ride malfunctions? to be lazy. He sees no art in them past the or laughing or excitement,” Shelton said. “If What if one of the safety [harnesses] break? in-the-moment thrill. Instead, he prefers anything can make you feel that afraid, isn’t And the height. If it’s too high, I freak out and movies, like “Rosemary’s Baby” and “The that worth checking out?” e my nerves get more heightened.” Sixth Sense,” that aim beyond this.
The motivation behind actively seeking out fear
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FEATURES | SEPTEMBER 2017
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TALE OF TWO FRIGHTS Fear can diverge — but at what cost? BY ELIZABETH HAN AND VIVIAN CHIANG
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rimal fear rooted from immediate surroundings: escaping a ferocious animal, cutting through dark meadows, pushing for survival. This fear from insecurity still extends to modern day. We fear big exams. We fear rejection letters. We fear parental expectations. This alarming sensation based on personal experiences is coined as “intimate fear,” according to geographer Susan J. Smith in her book “Fear: Critical Geopolitics and Everyday Life.” Yet a new type of fear has emerged and accelerated in recent human history, as societies develop and technology advances. Fear is no longer just an emotional reaction from within. Rather, fear also trickles down from above, to “inspire actions which regulate and manipulate everyday life.” It comes in shapes of government propaganda and media reports — ones that can consume an entire population. Smith calls this fear a “global fear.” Now, global fear does not replace intimate fear, but rather runs on a parallel track. Smith writes that global fear does not consume people emotionally in everyday life as intimate fear does. Senior Darren Koppa agrees with such a tendency. On a busy school morning, he fears missing important items rather than the threat of global warming. “Everyday when I leave the house, I’m fearful that I forgot something at home,” Koppa said. “School’s about to start and I can’t go get it in time.” Senior Grace Zhou also agrees, comparing her fear of a physics test to robots taking over the world. “One global fear that I have is fear that we’re going to be taken over by robots. We won’t even know it because they’re the exact same as us in function except they’re robots,” Zhou said. “Honestly, I never think about it, until someone asks me what my global fear is … especially in comparison to my physics test.” Yet the impact of a global fear cannot be diminished, as it can entirely reshape communities. English teacher David Clarke
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recognizes this impact through the change opinions that are different from yours.” in media over the years. In the 70s, only These echo chambers also lead to a few channels dominated the media, opposing parties discounting each other’s primarily through television. Everyone fears. Smith gives such example through knew the big channels and their 6 o’clock geopolitics. The Western media trivializes anchors — ABC, NBC, CBS — and stayed Middle Eastern fear through its hyperbolic in the same “echo chamber.” In this echo emphasis on Middle Eastern terrorism chamber, the against the West. facts, ideas and Meanwhile, bombs opinions spewed raid those countries by the media on a daily basis. are “echoed,” Fear is still leaving little transforming, room for radical morphing and or polarized splicing into different views, only being shapes. With such repeated and amorphous clouds amplified by the of fear, Gary Marcus public. in “The New Yorker” “It’s almost poses, perhaps, the like everyone ultimate question was in the same SENIOR DARREN KOPPA to consider. He echochamber. And if everyone’s in the delineates the concept of “‘metaworry’: the same echochamber, in some sense there’s question of whether we are psychologically more debate, because you’re being exposed and politically constituted to worry about to people whose views are different from what we most need to worry about.” yours,” Clarke said. “Because these news Threats to human survival are changing at organizations need to cater to everybody, rapid speed, much faster than in the primal as opposed to a narrow market.” period. Yet people are too fixated on the However, now with the advent of present, immediate fear (i.e. next day’s technology, this echo chamber has broken test) to focus on bigger threats on the long into different branches. News is spreading run (i.e. global warming). quicker and wider through emerging media Marcus suggests that due to the outlets, but more are targeting specific “inherent cognitive bias” toward immediate groups of people, circumventing each concerns, people are not inclined to audience’s worst fear. For one, Clarke notes prevent threats posed by more pressing, how President Trump’s win in the election global fears. Koppa agrees. took many liberals by surprise. According “I think some people will take actions to Jack Shafer and Tucker Doherty of against global fears. I doubt the majority of “Politico Magazine,” 73 percent of all our population will come to deal with it,” internet publishing jobs are concentrated in Koppa said. “Instead, they would hope that the liberal coasts. With this strong liberal someone else would do that for them.” e bent, the “journalistic groupthink” was blinded from President Trump’s win. “If you don’t get outside [the echo chamber] then you can create this situation where you’re not listening to what people with different opinions have to say,” Clarke said. “[Being in the echo chamber] makes it very difficult to understand opinions not your own, makes you tend to be less tolerant of opinions not your own, makes you surprised when you meet people with
I THINK SOME PEOPLE WILL TAKE ACTIONS AGAINST GLOBAL FEARS. I DOUBT THE MAJORITY OF OUR POPULATION WILL COME TO DEAL WITH IT.
ILLUSTRATION | ANANYA BHAT
EL ESTOQUE | SEPTEMBER 2017
WITH AGE COMES CHANGE How fear shifts as we grow older BY ANANYA BHAT AND KAREN SANCHEZ
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s the cable car glided along it’s path in the air, she couldn’t help but shed tears in response to the gutwrenching terror. Every single time one of her family members shifted in their seats, peering over the edge to catch a glimpse of the green forest below, without fault she could feel the cart shudder in response, sending adrenaline pulsing from her head to her toes. The feeling worsened when the suspended cart switched cables mid-air, causing her to shake from side to side. Junior Mahima Kumar was in fifth grade when her family went on the gondola ride while on a vacation in Australia. Her fear of heights, specifically of falling, worsened. Nowadays, as a high schooler whose legs are a little longer, hands a little tougher and mind a little stronger, heights and falling intimidate her on a smaller scale. However, her fears from days as a child had evolved, transformed with time, some leaving her mind, others laying low in the depths of her stomach, a few completely new to her body. “As you grow up, you learn more about the world, and you learn more about other people’s perspectives and other people’s stories,” Kumar said. “You realize that there is a lot more to your fear than what it was when you were eight years old.”
Age does more than simply transform them and then failing to set a good example your baby fat into muscle or once hairless — practicing what she preaches. arms into bushy jungles, it furthers thinking, “It’s very easy to give a bunch of rules, matures the mind and adds depth to fears. right?” Otto said. “Not so easy to live by English teacher Vanessa Otto know this them and serve as an example.” process best, as she’s experienced fear However, the fears Otto has now are transform from one stage of life to the fears that were once non-existent in her next. As a child in third grade, Otto was life. A child, like second grader Arjun scared of Chucky. In middle school, Otto’s Joshi, doesn’t think about leaving a positive fears expanded and the issue of identity imprint on this world or the regrets that became a source of anxiety. There had accumulate over time. been pressure to succeed yet at the same After completing his own fears and the time, there was pressure to be popular fears of those around him, he came to a among peers. quick conclusion: Adults were afraid of While Otto worried that she wouldn’t be everything, but specifically his adult father part of the “popular” group, Kumar worried was afraid of breaking the fan and getting she wasn’t part of a group at all during her robbed. He also believed adults were afraid own middle school years. of tornados, unless they had basements “There were a lot more insecurities and because then they could hide there. there was a lot more ‘can I be friends with He too is ultimately afraid of getting these people?’ ‘Is it possible are they going robbed and tornados. And of lion cubs to let me in?’” attacking him. Kumar said. And of getting in Soon after, trouble, whether high school it be by mom brought upon or his teachers Kumar a at school. But whole new he is not, he revolution of boasts, scared fear: now it’s of jumping down all about the from a very future. Kumar tall pole at his is plagued with school, while his the possibility friends are. of ruining her “I jumped future — a off into the JUNIOR MAHIMA KUMAR fear she thinks tanbark,” Joshi to be irrational because she knows that it’s said. “And then I landed on my butt.” possible to make up mistakes from high Did that hurt? school in the future. “No.” The pressure of high school is something Really? Otto felt as well and something that spurred “A little bit.” her fear of disappointing her parents. Facing a fear, whether it be jumping “They’re your champions throughout from a tall pole or walking into a room full life, and they give you a lot, so you want to of Chucky dolls, might always hurt, at least make sure you’re worthy of all that they’ve just a little bit. But Otto feels that dealing given to you,” Otto said. with fears can become easier as one gets Yet while Otto wanted to play the role older, as she has learned new coping of a good daughter and live up to their high mechanisms along the way. expectations, there was always a part of “I feel like as a child, as a young adult, as her yearning to venture out and explore. a high school student, as a college student, Otto feared that she would miss out on you’re more concerned with goals that the parties and other life experiences her are more immediate, fears that are more friends seemed to be having. immediate,” Otto said. “But then as an Now as a parent herself she’s adult ... there’s a greater world around you, beginning to understand the you’re a member of the global community overprotective actions of her ... there’s a lot of pressure I think that parents. As the mother comes along with that, but your ability to of seven-year-old cope with those types of pressures become twin daughters, she easier as you get older.” e fears placing too many rules and expectations on
AS YOU GROW UP, YOU LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WORLD ... YOU REALIZE THAT THERE IS A LOT MORE TO YOUR FEAR THAN WHAT IT WAS WHEN YOU WERE EIGHT YEARS OLD.
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COSTMETICS Students examine their makeup spending habits BY HANNAH LEE AND KAREN MA
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t is 1 a.m. on a Thursday, and while most prices can go into the hundreds and, thus, elevate students are cramming to finish homework or expectations for product quality. refreshing their Instagram feeds, senior Seko Li “There’s a pretty significant difference between is finishing up a successful research session. Her drugstore and high-end makeup,” Xu said. “For result? The purchase of a brand new Mary-Lou example, I have to buy [eyeliners] from Sephora Manizer highlighter from theBalm Cosmetics. for at least $20 because I’ve never found a good “Even though I didn’t do any homework that drugstore eyeliner. Even if it says waterproof, day, I felt accomplished after finally buying my [drugstore eyeliners] never stay as long.” highlighter,” Li said. Because makeup can be very expensive, most Li began exploring makeup upon entering high students save their higher end makeup for special school, taking inspiration from popular Youtube occasions. However, senior Ellen Li does the gurus such as Kathleen Lights and Jenn Im. Now, opposite. In the case of two similar products with Li buys products every two to three weeks. She is contrasting prices, Ellen Li opts to use the more not alone in her passion for makeup. expensive one regularly. According to the NPD Group, a market research “I expect the more expensive one to be better company that monitors consumer purchase data, for my skin [when I purchase it],” Ellen Li said. the U.S. prestige beauty industry reached $17 “Even if it doesn’t [actually end up being better].” billion in 2016. The makeup industry experienced High quality makeup is commonly defined the greatest sales growth of 12 percent and among makeup users as long-lasting, highly contributed 82 percent towards the beauty pigmented, comfortable to wear and easy to work industry’s total gains. with. According to Seko Li, expensive makeup According to a survey of 176 products tend to have more of these qualities. students, 79.5 percent purchase their “I’ve noticed that higher-end [makeup] is makeup at Target, followed by 64.8 percent longer-lasting on your face, and just feels better who shop at Sephora, a chain of cosmetic most of the time,” Seko Li said. “The quality of stores. Sophomore Jacqueline Xu, a makeup drugstore is pretty good for a lot of things, but enthusiast, frequently shops at these stores. for things like eyeshadow and eyeliner, I feel “I’ve never walked out like brand actually makes a SCAN FOR MORE difference.” of Sephora without buying anything,” Xu said. “I feel Although these qualities COVERAGE like I have an obligation.” are generally attributed to This urge to purchase high-end makeup, according makeup resounds with 45 percent of the 382 to Smith, many drugstore brands such as students surveyed. For example, sophomore Maybelline and NYX carry products that are Ella Smith makes a trip to Sephora, Ulta or comparable to these more expensive ones. Target every week with her friends to purchase “Honestly, some products that are really new makeup products from her favorite brands, cheap are better than ones that are expensive, typically spending around $45 for a foundation or so you just have to try them out,” Smith said. “I $60 for an eyeshadow palette. have favorite foundations that are $10 that work “In one of my Sephora trips, I spent more than as well as ones that are $50.” $200,” Smith said. “My friends sometimes laugh at Regardless of the price, makeup is a product how much money I spend on makeup.” which students with varying levels of passion For consumers who prefer cheaper options, indulge in. Whether it is providing prom services Target and CVS Pharmacy are front-runners or serving as a creative outlet, applying and for drugstore makeup. Yet, despite purchasing makeup is a fun hobby for students. having these alternatives, maintaining a “[Makeup] is fun and it makes me look makeup collection is not a cheap hobby. prettier,” Ellen Li said, laughing. “I think it’s Although some drugstore makeup can be overpriced, but I love makeup. So I buy it.” e purchased for less than $10, high-end makeup 2 6
EL ESTOQUE | SEPTEMBER 2017
Sure, I’m free that day… What do you want to do? STORY STORY BY BY JENNIE JENNIE CHEN CHEN ILLUSTRATION BY ANANYA BHAT AND MICHELLE WONG School is back in session, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on some entertaining events around the area. Take a break from studying and try out these activities. e
9 a.m. 10 a.m.
Every Sat. Santana Row Park
Free Summer Yoga Series
Bring your yoga mat to Santana Row and break a sweat with an outdoor morning workout. The yoga class, hosted by Lululemon, focuses on creating mindfulness through various exercises.
6 p.m. 3:30 p.m.
Sept. 23-24 Mountain View
Center for the Performing Arts
'The Sleeping Beauty Suite'
Enjoy a shortened rendition of the ballet “Sleeping Beauty,” performed by the Bayer Ballet Academy and set to the music of Tchaikovsky and the choreography of Marius Petipa. Tickets are available at tickets.mvcpa.com for $28-38.
10 a.m. 5 p.m.
Sept. 16 William Street Park
Bark in the Park
Calling all dog lovers to San Jose’s Bark in the Park, the largest dog festival in the U.S. Humans and canines alike can participate in contests such as the Dog Costume Contest and Dog/Owner LookAlike Contest, and enjoy delicious food and specialized dog treats.
7 a.m. 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 27-28 Santa Clara Convention Center
RoboBusiness 2017 Interested in learning more about the global robotics industry? Stop by the two-day exposition to network with industry professionals, participate in Q&A sessions with presenters and witness product unveilings from over 100 exhibitors.
All Day
Sept. 16-17 Cupertino
Annual Garage Sale
Have some items you’ve been meaning to get rid of? Give them a better home and earn some cash by participating in the Cupertino city-wide garage sale. Register early to have your location added to the city-wide map.
10 a.m. 5 p.m.
Sept. 30 Memorial Park
Diwali Festival Come out to Memorial Park for an early celebration of Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights. This free event commemorates intercultural understanding through dance, arts and crafts, food and music.
A & E | SEPTEMBER 2017
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organized notes pencil binder calculatorcolorpost-itshighlighter pens scissors neat eraser bullet journal perfectionist notes folders dividers planner extra notebook pens inside desk notes organized pencil binder calculator color post-its the highlighter notebook scissors neat eraser bullet journal perfectionist binder notes dividers planner notebook folders desk bookmark organized notes pencil binder calculator color post-its highlighter scissors neat eraser bullet journal perfectionist Students and teachers compare their own organization habits with the system used by study blogs BY JENNIE CHEN AND RIA KOLLI
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s art teacher Brian Chow scrolls through pictures of bullet journals for the first time, his brow furrows in concentration while he zooms in to see the details of the intricate design. After scanning over several images, he stops to focus on one particular bullet journal
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spread, which features a color-coded plan for an entire week, tracking everything from water intake to purchases of kitty litter. “They’d be a really good designer at some point, like a visual designer, because they’re certainly concerned with how things are looking,” Chow said.
Chow sees bullet journals as succinct, clear and laid out to the point where they can feel “designed” — a feat he considers opposite of illegible, jumbled scrawling on pieces of paper. But while he recognizes that there are more extravagant ways to construct a to-do list, Chow prefers to
stick with what he feels is a more practical calming sometimes to look at those things method of organization. and relax while you’re working or stressed Chow describes his classroom as out about studying.” organized enough to maintain an ease Although Lai knows of the studyblr of workflow, so c o m m u n i t y, that students can she maintains quickly access that her notes materials to avoid are different, wasting class because while time. Chow’s own bloggers’ notes daily to-do list is a cater more to minimalist notepad the enjoyment with a template for of their the date, task and followers, hers time a task should are organized be accomplished. in a format that On the other she knows best, hand, sophomore not for other Ashley Liu’s people to look current method at. Accordingly, ART TEACHER BRIAN CHOW of notetaking and she likes to organization was maintain a clean inspired by the study blog community. The workspace by placing all her pens in a study blog community, coined “studyblr,” special container and folders and binders are usually Tumblr or Instagram accounts in a designated drawer. dedicated to posting about academics, “I’ve always enjoyed organizing things — whether it be advice on staying motivated or when I was little I’d clean my room for fun,” master posts with links to helpful websites. Lai said. “And it’s actually really relaxing The focal point of these blogs, however, is [and fun] to organize things and put things the color-coding, neatness, organization away when you’re stressed because it’s not and overall pleasing aesthetics of their something you really have to think about.” notes and bullet journals. Through these For Chow, excessive organization and posts, bloggers hope to show off their work bullet journaling feels like a waste of time. while also instilling a sense of motivation He feels that the time and energy necessary towards academics and good habits. to make notes visually pleasing can be After scrolling through some Instagram better spent doing other work, like playing posts the summer before her freshman sports and fulfilling his bucket list activities. year, Liu decided to start taking notes in “I can do [a lot] to make [something] a more organized fashion. Although it felt look nicer. And that might be kinda fun, strange at first, she quickly became used to right?” Chow said. “But then I have to go her new style. look at ‘Well, how much time do I have? Do Though she has received many I want to spend my energy beautifying that compliments about her aesthetically piece or do I want to spend my time doing pleasing notes, something else?’” Liu has also Still, Liu SCAN FOR MORE encountered feels that she COVERAGE some that see her focuses equally notes as “extra.” on aesthetics However, she and practicality. believes that spending additional time to There’s an effort to make her notes look make her notes a useful tool for studying nice, but she also strives to get down isn’t considered “extra.” the main ideas of the lecture instead of Compared to more aesthetically- solely focusing on beautifying her work. focused notetakers like Liu, sophomore She advises students aspiring to improve Audrey Lai feels she is more practical in the neatness of their work to look for her note-taking, by remembering that on Youtube or Instagram, because the the point of her notes is to make sure she plethora of tips cater to a variety of people. can understand the content and study the Chow likens students’ different notematerial without stressing out about finding taking styles to different learning styles. He the material. surmises that there are people all along the “I like to color code things because not spectrum, from ones who like everything to only does it keep [my notes] organized, be a certain way to others who can function but it also looks nice,” Lai said. “It’s just just fine in a chaotic environment.
CHAOS MEANS THINGS ARE JUST EVERYWHERE AND NOT SUPER ORGANIZED, AND JUST KIND OF GO WITH THE FLOW. BECAUSE THAT’S HOW LIFE IS.
“Chaos means things are just everywhere and not super organized, and just kind of go with the flow. Because that’s how life is. It changes on a dime, and all things can be planned out. But what do you do when it’s not planned out anymore and it changes?” Chow said. “You might be in [that situation] and function just fine, but at some point, things just have to be a certain way. So for some people maybe it’s their notes.” e
ILLUSTRATIONS | RIA KOLLI
A & E | SEPTEMBER 2017
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PRESS PLAY THE GROWTH OF ESPORTS HAS SHOWN MORE MAINSTREAM EXPOSURE
BY SHAYON MORADI AND SHARJEEL RAHMAN
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ounds of guns blazing fill the arena and abruptly stop. The crowd screams when they hear the announcer say the words: Counter Terrorists win. These words echo through Oracle Arena as the crowd cheers louder for their favorite team. As they quiet down, the announcer yells, “Ninjas in Pyjamas are your Counter Strike IEM 2016 Champions.” The five team members dressed in black all jump up in excitement as they have just won the 430,000 dollar prize. Senior Suchith Ullagaddi was an attendee at IEM Oakland in 2016 and has noticed the growth of esports in the last couple of years. According to ESPN, from 2012 to 2014 the number of people who watched an esport event went from 58 million to 83 million. “It used to be the big events [which] had like 500 to 1,000 people, but nowadays the bigger esports events can fill up the entire stadium,” Ullagaddi said. “At the Oracle Arena at IEM last year, the entire stadium was filled out for both the [‘League of Legends’] and the ‘Counterstrike’ crowd, which I thought was really cool because over a long period of time, it’s grown exponentially.”
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ILLUSTRATION | SARA ENTEZAR ILLUSTRATION | SARA ENTEZAR
Games like “Valve’s Counter Strike: tournaments are selling giant stadiums, Global Offensive” and Riot Games’ “League such as Madison Square Garden. Some of of Legends” have moved out of basement the grand-scale tournaments attract even tournaments among friends to the Oracle larger audiences than traditional sporting Arena, attracting as many fans as events like the Stanley Cup Final. Prize a Golden State Warrior’s money has soared into game. Esports is now MORE AND MORE millions, with “Dota 2’s The joining mainstream sports International tournament as streams are now CORPORATIONS having a prize pool of 24 seeing showtime on ESPN AND NBA AND million dollars. and TNT. Senior Samin “More and more Ullah commented on the SOCCER TEAMS corporations and NBA and changing perception of ARE INVESTING IN soccer teams are investing esports. in [‘Counter Strike Global “Esports gives people [COUNTER STRIKE Offensive’] and ‘League the idea that games aren’t GLOBAL OFFENSIVE] of Legends teams,’” just for fun [anymore],” Ullagaddi said. “That’s just AND LEAGUE OF Ullah said. an example of how these Even colleges have LEGENDS TEAMS. bigger organizations are joined the action with buying into esports.” schools from the University SENIOR SUCHITH With this new-found of California Irvine to ULAGADDI popularity, some have Arizona State University begun to aspire to become hosting their own esports teams. Much professional players, like how many dream like traditional college players, students of being a basketball or football star. get scholarship money to participate in Players such as Peng “Doublelift” Yiliang have had the success story that makes tournaments all over the country. The success of esports parallels the esports appealing. Peng dropped out of successes of other major sports. These University of California Irvine in 2011 to
pursue a professional career in “League of Legends.” His decision caused his parents to kick him out with only just his laptop. Six years later, he has become arguably one of the best players on the West Coast, winning more than 115,000 dollars in tournaments alone and has held a number one ranking on the “League of Legends” official ranking for North America. In the past few years, esports have seen growth in viewership and interest, but this growth is million still limited. PEOPLE WATCHED One is the the 2016 “Leagueaccessibility of Legends” of the Championship t e c h n o l o g y. -ESPN As senior Michael Wu puts it, the area where traditional sports will always have esports beat is in accessibility. Another issue with esports, according to Ullagaddi, is the dedication required from the audience. An esports match is much more difficult to follow as opposed to a sports game like basketball, where the concept of how to score points, for example, is simple: put the ball in the hoop. But in a popular esport like “Dota 2,” there are countless icons, spells and strategies an audience member have to understand before they can fully enjoy a match. “If you’re watching an esport, you actually have to be dedicated,” Ullagaddi said. “You have to know how to play the game, you have to know strategy, you have to understand players [and] you have to understand teams.” It is true that the dedication towards esports exists, according to Business Insider players practice from a minimum of 50 hours a week, and it can also be hard on players, physically and mentally. With the stress of competition and the long hours of training each day, a career in esports can be difficult. Pro players are constantly under the spotlight by their fans, and sometimes the backlash from them can be too much. Popular North American player William ‘Meteos’ Hartman is easily recognized by “League of Legends” players as the
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original members of the Cloud9 roster. He was originally dubbed the North American superstar, but his performances in the 2016 World Championships failed to live up to fan expectations. As they were knocked out of the tournament in the quarter final stage, Hartman was exposed to criticism and hate on many social media platforms. On one of his streams, Hartman mentioned he had even received death threats and had been told to kill himself. The mental strain of tournament play has the potential to devastate an esports player’s life, beyond the stress of online abuse. The story of Cheon “Promise” Minki, a former player for South Korean team AHQ Gaming, is a tale wrapped in tragedy. Cheon spent as much time as he could finding Internet cafes in order to play “League of Legends,” a game he displayed a natural aptitude for. Before long, Cheon was contacted by Noh Dae Chul, the manager for Korean “League of Legends” team AHQ Gaming, and offered a starting position within their ranks. Cheon’s maneger informed him that in order to
continue playing competitively, they would have to intentionally lose to the more powerful teams — match fixing for cash, his team had purposely lost games against some of the bigger name teams for money. Cheon had finally been pushed over the edge because of the match fixing his team did and the treatment he received from his manager. Unable to cope with his personal issues and the ordeal he’d been through with AHQ Gaming, the talented pro threw himself off of a twelve story building in a suicide attempt. He survived this fall and went on to make a recovery, aided by Riot Games themselves. But his story is still a cautionary tale for many who aspire to become professional players. Despite this, esport players can still haul in millions in winnings and tournaments can have bigger audiences than the NBA Final. Much like the corporations of the industrial revolution and the digital companies of the dotcom era, esports is experiencing the growing pains associated with fast growth. For esports to continue its growth it’s going to have remedy its issues just as other industries have done in the past. e
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APPLES TO APPLES Different recipes and products to make with an apple this fall BY CHETANA RAMAIYER AND MICHELLE WONG As summer draws to a close, we're greeted with cooler weather, new classes and, of course, apples — a fruit that can serve many purposes. From traditional to unique, here are a few ways to make the most of this fall-time favorite. e
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PIE IN AN APPLE
CANDLE HOLDER
LIP BALM
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Want to make a pie, but baking the perfect crust seems too complicated? Eliminate that step by using an apple itself as your crust to enjoy a mini, creative version of an apple pie.
When autumn rolls around, it’s time to bust out the cinnamon and pumpkin pie scented candles. Create a place to hold your candles and put it around your house for a fall atmosphere.
Make your own apple-flavored lip balm with simple ingredients from around your house. Save money and moisturize your lips with this easy mixture.
Feeling cold? Warm yourself up with some fresh apple cider. Not only is it delicious, but you only need four common household ingredients.
Ingredients: 4 Granny Smith apples 1 can apple pie filling 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 pie crust 1 lightly beaten egg
Ingredients: 1 Apple 1 Tea light or votive candle Lemon juice
Ingredients: 4 drops of apple flavor oil 6 tsp jojoba oil 1 tsp aloe vera oil 3 tsp of beeswax 4 drops cinnamon flavor oil 2 drops of vanilla flavor oil
Ingredients: 10 apples cut into quarters 3/4 cup white sugar 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon ground allspice
Recipe: 1. Preheat oven to 400° F. 2. Slice the top off of each apple and scoop out the insides. 3. In a small bowl, mix the apple pie filling with cinnamon. Spoon the filling into each apple. 4. Unroll 1 pie crust and cut it into fourths. Then cut each quarter into 1/4 inch strips. 5. Alternate weave the strips on top of the apple and trim off the excess. Brush the beaten egg over the top of each crust. 6. Place aples in a baking dish and fill with 1/4 inch of water. Bake for 20-25 minutes. 7. Remove from baking dish.
Recipe: 1. Wash the apple and remove the stem, using a knife if necessary. 2. Place the candle you plan to use on top of the apple, and make marks around the edges using a knife. 3. Use the knife to carve a small circle through the skin. Score the center of the apple with an X. Scoop out the top part of the apple. 4. Fill the hole with lemon juice and let it sit for 5 - 10 minutes. Pour it out and then let it dry. 5. Add the candle.
Recipe: 1. Melt the oils and beeswax in a double boiler (pan over a pan of water) on low heat until the wax is melted. 2. Remove it from the heat. While the mix is still hot, add and mix essential oils or your optional coloring (such as lipstick, colored beeswax or candle dye). 3. After mixing, while hot, pour into pots or containers. Allow to set before use.
Recipe: 1. Place apples in a large stockpot and add enough water to cover by at least 2 inches. 2. Stir in sugar, cinnamon and allspice into stockpot. 3. Bring to a boil. Boil, uncovered, for 1 hour. 4. Cover pot, reduce heat, and simmer for 2 hours. 5. Strain apple mxture through a fine mesh sieve. Discard solids. 6. Drain cider again through a cheesecloth lined sieve. Refrigerate until cold.
SOURCE | TABLESPOON
SOURCE | SHEKNOWS
SOURCE | CRAFTBITS.COM
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EL ESTOQUE | SEPTEMBER 2017
SOURCE | ALLRECIPES
RACE
SPORTS
CUT TO THE BY SUNJIN CHANG, EMMA LAM, ANJINI VENUGOPAL
Cross country athletes participate in summer competitions
G PHOTO | ANJINI VENUGOPAL
rit. That’s the daily reminder that MVHS’ head coach of cross country and track and field Kirk Flatow gives his athletes at practice. But even when MVHS runners are not competing at the school level over the summer, many of them continue to demonstrate their grit through additional events. Going beyond the summer training that Flatow typically recommends for cross country runners, athletes like sophomore Triya Roy and junior Aravind Meyyappan trained for and competed in half-marathons. Others — sophomores Kamyar Moradi and Kyle Tsujimoto, junior Andy Fang, seniors Jeffrey Xu and Jason Tsujimoto and MVHS class of 2017 alumni Aidan Gottlieb and Andy Ma — competed in a relay around Lake Tahoe, and senior Sabrina Hung competed at the Junior Olympic level steeplechase. “I really think this is a great example of the team. I mean these guys really like what they’re doing,” Flatow said. “They’re not just doing it to check boxes. And they started for all different reasons ... They joined cross country for whatever [reason] they did, and they continue to grow in their passion to the sport.”
SPORTS | SEPTEMBER 2017
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HALF MARATHON
In contrast to the flat terrain that Roy For some students, walking up the stairs to their next class would be ran on, Meyyappan ran on unevenly considered a tough workout, but not paved highways with the race starting for sophomore Triya Roy and junior at 4 a.m. July 8. Having run a half Aravind Meyyappan, who each run marathon in one hour and 30 minutes in the U.S., Meyyappan had goals to around 40 miles on a weekly basis. Roy has enjoyed running alone or break his time in India, so he led the with friends from a young age, which race much of the way as he continued is why she decided to join the cross to remain in the top 10. Having paced country team her freshman year. Last his run poorly, Meyyappan eventually year, her dad noticed her interest in ended his race at one hour 40 minutes, running, so he proposed the idea of falling from the top 10 and leaving him running a half marathon. Roy ran the disappointed. “I really wanted to win — top three,” half marathon at the San Francisco Marathon in 2016, and she trained for Meyyappan said. Meyyappan may have not the same event this year. On July 23, Roy’s race started accomplished this during this half near the Bay Bridge in San Francisco, marathon, but he hopes to accomplish continued through the Golden Gate similar goals in the near future with Bridge and ended at Golden Gate Park. continued practice. Both Roy and Meyyappan hold big Last year, Roy ran the 13.1 mile race in a time of one hour and 47 minutes, plans for their future as athletes. “A marathon requires a lot of and she was determined to break her training and I don’t know if I’m ready to record this year. devote that much During her YOU’RE JUST IN THIS FIELD time [right now], training process, OF POSITIVE ENERGY AND but it’s certainly Roy ran about five I to six days per week THAT HELPS YOU PROPEL something would envision ranging from five to THROUGH THE LAST FEW myself doing in 11 miles. Having MILES OF THE RACE. the next five to 10 already trained for her season, she SOPHOMORE TRIYA ROY years,” Roy said. If I’m in town next didn’t need much year, I’ll definitely additional training. She continued to push herself as she do the half marathon [again].” Roy has plans to take part in a full finished the race with a personal record marathon in a few years and overcome of one hour and 42 minutes. “The best part is you kinda run it her weakness in cycling to take on a with a bunch of people around you,” triathlon in the future. As Roy and Meyyappan prepare for Roy said. “You’re just in this field of positive energy and that helps you the current cross country season, they propel through the last few miles of the use experiences from their summer half marathons to continue their race.” Meanwhile in Chennai, India, training momentum. Meyyappan was getting ready for his first overseas half marathon. Since entering high school, Meyyappan has Seven runners. Seventy-two miles. always run 40 to 48 miles per week, A team of runners ranging from so he didn’t have to add extra miles to sophomores who had just completed his training. Meyyappan had previously their first year of cross country and trained for two other half marathons. track at the high school level, to MVHS His dad, an avid runner, was alumni who graduated with the class volunteering for a half marathon held in of 2017, competed in the DeCelle Chennai and encouraged Meyyappan Memorial Fifty-third Lake Tahoe Relay and his sister to participate. on June 10.
LAKE TAHOE RELAY
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Senior Jason Tsujimoto first proposed this race to his friends about a month before school let out. Jason Tsujimoto had been looking for long distance relays for a few months, so when his dad showed him the Lake Tahoe Relay online and asked if he wanted to go with his brother and some friends, he was quick to agree. Jason Tsujimoto’s parents accompanied the seven boys to Lake Tahoe where they stayed in a cabin. They reached on Friday morning for the race on Saturday, and in this day before the race, the boys were able to bond through cooking and discussing healthy eating habits. Advertised as the “Oldest relay race in the U.S.,” the course winds around the lake. For the high school boys division, the first leg of the relay began at Tahoe Beach Retreat in South Lake Tahoe. However, each runner didn’t run the same fraction of the 72 miles; it depended on how steep each section of the course was. First was Gottlieb, followed by Xu, Moradi, Jason Tsujimioto, Fang and Kyle Tsujimoto, and the relay was anchored by Ma. This was their first time competing in the relay, but according to Jason, ideally it won’t be their last. With a sense of competition brewing, they hope to go back next year to compete against MVHS alumni, who plan on forming their own team of seven to compete against MVHS runners. In addition to allowing these athletes to train for an event off-season, this experience has strengthened their teamwork. Jason Tsujimoto knows the cross country team has a great support system, but he thinks the extra bonding that comes out of running outside of the MVHS team events has beneficial impacts, both physically and mentally. “I think when we’re all out there supporting each other more, it helps the runners better in the races,” Jason Tsujimoto said. “When everyone’s cheering for them, it helps give them a boost of energy when they run.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF KIRK FLATOW
Sophomore Kyle Tsujimoto runs 8.6 miles of the 72 mile relay around Lake Tahoe.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KIRK FLATOW
Senior Sabrina Hung hurdles a steeple at De Anza College. In steeplechase, athletes have to clear steeples and water. PHOTO | ROSHAN FERNANDEZ
Senior Jason Tsujimoto runs at annual time trial for MVHS cross country. Jason Tsujimoto ran 9.6 miles around Lake Tahoe.
STEEPLECHASE
She went home after a long day children there. There were booths of track practice, and an email from surrounding the track, selling food, hurdle coach Ray Cornell popped up. shirts and more. The atmosphere The email was about an opportunity was lively and Hung remembers being to attend a race, one that she had amused by discovering something expressed interest in due to her passion known as “race walking,” where for long distance and hurdles. She had people just speed walked around the seen the race in action before, having track, which helped ease her tension watched it when she volunteered at De a bit. Throughout the day, Hung was Anza College meets. The expression amazed at the diversity of the runners. Despite everything happening on each runner’s face was something she had never seen before. It was a around her, Hung was gradually feeling like no other, and she wanted feeling more nervous as she watched the various events on the track. She to join. Within a few minutes of receiving checked in and started to warm up, all while anxiously the coach’s email, WHEN EVERYONE’S awaiting her name. senior Sabrina Hung CHEERING FOR THEM, She was in the last accepted the request Steeplechase is IT HELPS GIVE [THE event of the day; a combination of RUNNERS] A BOOST OF she heard her name being called to come running, hurdling ENERGY WHEN THEY up to the track, and and hydrating. It was RUN. Hung could feel her one of most intense nerves sky rocket. experiences of her life. SENIOR JASON “[I] could feel While training for TSUJIMOTO myself being this event, Hung had a d e h y d r a t e d regimen she would go through with her coach; they would already,” Hung said. “[I] got to the first warm up and do hurdles as well as steeple, I told myself, ‘Get through steeplechase exercises. On other days, every steeple, don’t trip and get to Hung would have hurdles on the track, the water jump too.’ For me, it was and then practice running the 400 just like I want to finish this, I want to meter with hurdles in place. Coach do something for myself and so it was Cornell would time her, and they would very hard and challenging but I was very happy that I had finished it.” start again and again. Hung was qualified for the USATF On the weekends, Hung would go out and do her own long runs in order Hershey National Junior Olympic to get herself back in shape. Hung Track and Field Championship in described the training as rigorous, as Kansas, but decided not to go because she only had only one rest day before she didn’t feel mentally and physically starting up training again. She would prepared. With the cross country throw up during practices as well as season starting up again, Hung feels that next time she will be more in feel faint and dizzy. “Honestly, there were many times shape for the championship. “I would recommend it, [but] they where I wanted to quit and it was just really hard because I was the only would have to know this [is] not an one in training,” Hung said. “But I easy challenge,” Hung said. “But if felt that once I finish I will accomplish they are really up for the challenge to something that probably a lot of people do it.” e can’t experience.” On the day of the race at De Anza SCAN FOR MORE College, Hung remembers it being COVERAGE rather crowded, and she was shocked at the fact that there were so many
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Spanish exchange student Martina Genova joins field hockey team BY ROSHAN FERNANDEZ AND ADITI GNANASEKAR
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t’s not uncommon to hear about students taking a day off to walk in the shoes of another student as part of a temporary transfer program. IDC exchange exposes students to different learning environments, where students shadow others and learn what it is like to attend classes at another school in the FUHSD. But for sophomore Martina Genova, it isn’t just one day and it isn’t just another school. It’s a whole school year in an entirely different country, with a new family and unfamiliar experiences. Senior Devin Pereira was immediately excited when she heard her friend senior Stephanie Mullen would be hosting an
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION | ROSHAN FERNANDEZ AND ADITI GNANASEKAR
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exchange student from Spain. The first thing Pereira did was suggest that Mullen’s shadow play field hockey as a way to meet people. Pereira recalled s e n d i n g Genova an Instagram message, expressing h e r excitement to meet and introduce her to the people, places and sports at school. “I was mentioning to [Mullen] how [Genova] should play field hockey,” Pereira said. “And sure enough, I get another Instagram direct message [from Genova] that says ‘Hey, what stuff do I need?’”
Genova, who is officially attending MVHS as a sophomore for the next 10 months, is also a member of the junior varsity field hockey team. She explains that field hockey is basically non-existent in the small town just outside of Barcelona where she’s from. But after talking to Mullen and Pereira, she decided that, despite having no experience with the sport, field hockey was still something she wanted to try. “The biggest thing was that I know that the team and the coaches make a big effort for [the players] to do things together,” Mullen said. “And the [team] has a lot of people that haven’t played before so it would be easier than volleyball or soccer.” Genova, who was only familiar with individual sports such as horse riding, says her sister went through the same exchange program and she played field hockey while staying with a host family in Kansas. Genova’s sister encouraged her to join the field hockey team because it would give her a feel for a team-like environment and help
her make more friends. So, despite feeling sports teams, which is the primary reason nervous, Genova found herself out on the she encouraged Genova to join the team. “It’s a really special interaction between field for tryouts with Pereira. JV and varsity,” “At first, I was Pereira said. “We’re like, ‘I don’t know separate squads, how to play field [but] we’re all one hockey’ so I felt kind team.” of [useless],” Genova Because the JV said. “But I’m slowly and varsity teams learning and I [am] almost always slowly playing a little practice together, bit more.” both sets of players Genova explains can improve. For that she felt very lost the JV players, at the beginning, but learning from other members of varsity players the team were eager SENIOR DEVIN PEREIRA raises their level to help teach her the of performance. basics and make her And for the varsity players, teaching feel comfortable on the field. “The first day, [senior] Sara Nordby concepts and skills to those who are less explained to me how to hold the stick,” experienced gives them a Genova said. “And they don’t explain [it] to higher understanding of you like you’re an unusual person, or that the game. “I kind of admire you shouldn’t be on the team, but rather like you have a chance of becoming a good [the varsity players]. I think all of JV admires player.” For Genova, field hockey is a sport [them] because they she is very inclined to play because of the play so well,” Genova support and advice her teammates provide. said. “The other day Her interest for the activity and passion we were watching their game and we for running just like a l l o w SCAN FOR MORE were ‘Wow.’” Genova to W h e n pick up the COVERAGE Genova necessary came to skills easily. Pereira, who also participates in both soccer MVHS, she didn’t know and track and field, claims field hockey is anyone but Mullen. For her, like one big family, a special element that field hockey has provided isn’t as prominent on some other MVHS that first bridge that will
IT’S A REALLY SPECIAL INTERACTION BETWEEN JV AND VARSITY. WE’RE SEPARATE SQUADS, [BUT] WE’RE ALL ON ONE TEAM.
lead to more close relationships during the season and through the rest of the year. “[Field hockey] is really great for new players, freshmen coming in, or people like Martina, a sophomore who’s looking to make more friends,” Pereira said. “Walking between classes you’ll wave to people, all your friends and field hockey people.” In addition, Genova explains that after only a few weeks of going to field hockey practice, she has learned everything from positions, technique and physical skills required to the importance of team coordination and physical endurance. “When I came here, I had never [run] so much,” Genova said. “[It was] maybe five minutes and after I [was] lying on the floor.” In terms of field hockey, Genova is continuing to learn about the game each day. And regarding her future as an MVHS student, Genova is excited and looking forward to trying out other sports, such as basketball and track and field. But for now, she says that she has a whole team full of friends she wants to get to know better. In many ways, the MVHS field hockey team has become her new family. e
Martina Genova (left) passes the ball to Devin Pereira (right)
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CALLING THE SHOTS Student athletes experience what it’s like to be a coach BY AANCHAL GARG AND JAHAN RAZAVI
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enior Christopher Liou plays defensive specialist on the boys varsity volleyball team. In addition to his weekly school season practices, Liou also plays club volleyball, practicing two hours a day, three days a week. However, every Saturday for the past two years, Liou has spent four hours as an assistant coach at the Phoenix Volleyball School in Santa Clara, teaching fundamental skills to middle and high schoolers. Even though he wasn’t flying solo, he didn’t know how to interact with the young kids when he first started. Liou had to figure out the appropriate drills for individual skill levels. “I worked almost as hard there as [I did] during a game,” Liou said. As the kids were learning how to play volleyball, Liou was learning how to coach. According to Liou, the process was difficult and required an immense amount of patience on his part. Along the way, he learned how to build a respectful relationship with his players to help them accept his feedback more willingly. ”I wanted to become a better coach and really be able to help these kids out to become better volleyball players,” Liou said. Liou says that the amount of respect he has for his own coaches has increased tremendously because of the amount of patience and persistence it takes to be a coach. He also says that gaining perspective helped him become more patient with the kids and work with them better. “That persistence that a lot of my coaches had, I find truly admirable because I don’t think I would’ve [been able to] do it myself,” Liou said. Similarly, senior Mansi Reddy, a center defender on the girls soccer team and former coach for American Youth Soccer Organization, a recreational soccer club for children and teenagers, agrees that coaching has given her a new perspective on why coaches make the decisions they do. For example, Reddy explains that if a player has strengths such as speed in one position, the coach would place them in that
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position even if it wasn’t necessarily what the increased, so did her skills. From the school player had in mind. The responsibility falls to the area to the province team, Foret on the coach, since management of players ended up playing on the Chinese national and talent is crucial. team. However, something didn’t sit right “[After] being a coach, with her, even I kind of understand that at such a high there’s always a reason that position. Foret I’m in the position that I wanted to am,” Reddy said. see the world In addition to and gain new perspective, Reddy explains experiences that coaching has given her in countries self-confidence in her skills besides China. as a soccer player. “I just “Once you master [wanted] to [a skill], that’s when you open my eyes,” teach [it],“ Reddy said. SENIOR CHRISTOPHER LIOU Foret said. “Just teaching made me feel In search of like I accomplished something bigger and new opportunities, Foret traveled to Turkey that I could actually pass on what I knew and to play for their provincial team. Eventually, apply what I’ve been learning.” she came to the U.S. to finish her studies at Likewise, Liou’s boss Fresno Pacific University, graduating with a head coach Xiaofeng degree in kinesiology. Foret decided to open Foret gained the Phoenix Volleyball School after moving to same sense of the Bay Area to visit college friends. perspective as “Even [though playing] is teamwork, the owner of it’s still individual. You play your own Phoenix for nine position. You show your skill. You show years. Foret your talent,” Foret said. “But coaching started playing you need more thinking.” volleyball at According to all three, despite the age nine, and challenges that come with coaching, as her interest whether it be interacting with the children in the sport or getting used to taking control, the main reason they get back on the field everyday is because of the pride they feel while watching the kids improve. “When you teach a kid a concept or skill and they finally get it, that’s a great feeling to have,” Liou said. “That sense of accomplishment is something that I try to get everyday.” e
I WANTED TO BECOME A BETTER COACH AND REALLY BE ABLE TO HELP THESE KIDS OUT TO BECOME BETTER VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS
PHOTO | AANCHAL GARG
SPOrTS flash An MVHS tip goes over the opposing Mountain View HS block. Senior captain Alia Johnson played middle blocker in the 3-0 victory in their first game of the season.
Junior Jonah Ji breaks away from the defense on a slant play headed upfield. The varsity football team won its second away game against Evergreen Valley HS 35-22. PHOTO | OM KHANDEKAR
PHOTO | OM KHANDEKAR PHOTO | ANJINI VENUGOPAL
PHOTO | ROSHAN FERNANDEZ
Senior Serena Yoo dribbles the ball away from the MVHS goal. The girls lost to Saint Francis HS 1-2 in the first home game of the season.
Senior Alia Johnson reaches for the ball. The team took home a 3-0 win in their first home game of the season.
Sophomore Claire Lin and freshman Pranav Reddy complete the Watermelon Run, a cross country tradition. The time trial is used as a benchmark to track progress for the season. SPORTS | SEPTEMBER 2017
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A&E HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2017 WELCOME BACK RALLY
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ELESTOQUE.ORG “I think if you came into Mr. Brown or Mrs. Brown’s classroom, you would not guess that we were both firmly in the introvert camp,” English teacher Evan Brown said. “But it’s certainly something I’m more aware of when I go home. We’re very much introverts in our own ways.” NEW TEACHER COUPLE SHARES THEIR BEFORE MVHS
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